Vintage or antique solid
sterling silver medium-sized (approx. 1 5/16" tall with bale and jump
ring; weight approx. 1.6 g) Crucifix pendant featuring ancient Slavonic
Orthodox ornate "budded" design with iconic image of the Crucified
Savior and the traditional Orthodox "Protection" prayer on the
reverse. The large soldered jump ring of the pendant bears two punch
marks, one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the
"sterling" purity. The pendant has vintage or antique appearance
with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the
artwork, deformations of its original shape, scratches, dents, and patches of
discoloration/patina. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using
a complex procedure of gentle cleaning and polishing. The size and weight
of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing.
The nameplate placed on
the Savior's Cross just above the head of Jesus shows the "INRI"
abbreviation made in Cyrillic transliteration
as "IНЦI". The left and right "budded" ends of
the horizontal crossbar bear Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the
"IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and
the "XC" on the right. The bottom "budded" end of the
vertical crossbar shows Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS")
inscription made in a Cyrillic transliteration as "NИKA", an ancient
symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross.
The reverse bears an inscription of the traditional Slavonic Orthodox prayer meaning "Save and Protect". The prayer reminds us that Christ the Savior is with us to save and protect a person wearing the cross from every evil and all enemies visible and invisible.