Russian Bronze Ceremonial Cross, Based

Three crossbars, the lowest one slanted, in the Russian manner.

This ceremonial cross comes from Russia and dates to about 1780. It is bronze with enamel. Russian Orthodox believers often kept metal crosses like this in their homes or carried them on journeys for everyday prayer, and the three-bar form is the familiar cross of their church. Christ is raised in relief against cobalt and white enamel, with small faces at the ends of the upper bar, winged figures above and lines of inscription along the arms. A beaded border follows every edge. It stands on a slim black mount. Thirteen and three-quarter inches high.

The blue has held its ground. So has everything else.