Hanging Byzantine Orthodox Cross - Greek Cross

Reserved for Dalton,

Hanging Byzantine Orthodox Cross - Greek Cross - Vintage Decorative Smaltotex Coss - RC163

Constructed from cast brass and decorated with coloured enamel, this Byzantine hanging cross with candle holders is in very good condition. Produced by the Smaltotex craft workers from Greece who have produced these for over one hundred years - so it is hard to give an exact age but it certainly it is not new by any means. Smaltotex is Greek type of exquisite enameled bronze; items include plates, wall hangings, coasters, etc.

This item contains many Orthodox religious images, not least the double headed eagle that is present on the flag of the greek orthodox church. The man with the sword in traditional greek dress is holding a loaf of  prosphora, or greek holy bread. The wheels are thought to symbolise the path we take through life and the afterlife. Thus the wheel stands for the connection between one world and the next and here it is seen in three different styles.  The symbol is also seen as a way to ward off evil spirits and we ourselves found many carved into the stone work around the windows of our very old French home. A beautifully decorative item for the home.

Measuring 15.5" or 40 cm high by 7.5" or nearly 19.5 cm wide, the candle holders are around 1" or 2.5 cm deep. It weighs 400 grammes without any packaging. A very colourful and striking image from the middle of the twentieth century; probably originally the property of a pilgrim of the Orthodox Church.

Your purchase will be very carefully packaged with recycled materials where possible and despatched via the Irish An Post postal service.
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