Russian Bronze Ceremonial Cross, Based

Three crossbars, the lowest set at a slant.

This ceremonial cross comes from Russia and dates to about 1810. It is bronze with silver plating. Russian Orthodox believers kept crosses like this in homes and churches for prayer and carried them in processions, and the three bars with a slanted foot rest are the traditional form. Christ hangs at the center in raised relief, with small figures, inscriptions and buildings filling the arms around him. Silver covers most of the surface, and warm bronze shows through on the body. A black stand carries it. Eighteen inches high.

Eighteen inches, and the whole of the story.