Hand Cross

unknown

  • Hand Cross 2
  • Hand Cross 3
Basic information
ID
С-II-837
Author
unknown
Name
Hand Cross
Date of creation
17th c.
Country
Ukraine
Technique
carving
Material
wood
Dimensions (height x width x depth, cm)
29 x 11.5 x 2.5
Information about author
Author
unknown
Country
Object description
The hand cross belongs to the typological subgroup of liturgical crosses intended for worship. Such liturgical items make up a quantitatively large and iconographically rich group. The cross from the village of Stankivtsi has a seven-pointed cross with a short handle, made using contour, notched, and flat-relief carving, which allows the carved elements to rise above the background. The product's small size allows the folk artist to use only the most miniature carvings. On the front side of the hand-carved cross is the Crucifix, which occupies the middle cross and the main part of the stem. The sketched figure of the Saviour with marked outlines and slight elaboration of details is squat. His head is tilted to the right shoulder, and his palms are open. At the middle frame's ends are two half-figures with a graphically drawn contour line. A smooth line separates the upper and lower crosses from the main composition. The central surface of the upper frame is filled with a strip with letters, and the middle part of the lower frame is decorated with a flat-carved ornamental motif in the form of squares. In the centre of the back of the cross is a carved figure of the Virgin Mary in a crown with the Infant Christ in her arms. The back side of the upper and lower frames is identical to their ornamental design on the front side. A smooth stripe runs along the contour of the hand cross on both sides, repeating the shape of the frames. For a graphic accent, the master used a traditional "zholob line".
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery