Melchior (Filigree) Cross, with Enamel (Finift) Corpus Crucifix, Green

The icon in this Cross is hand painted in the Enamel ("Finift") technique which is described below.

The Cross is handmade of Russian famous Melchior Filigree technique.

"Finift" icons and jewelry are hand painted in the Rostov (a few hours from Moscow). The techniques used to create these wonderful little miniatures were developed in the second half of the 17th century.

The Russian word for enamel "finift" comes from the Greek "fingitis", which means "bright, shining stone."
Enamel is a special type of applied art, in which the main material used is a glassy substance colored with the oxides of various metals. Thus, gold fused with glass produces a ruby color, cobalt a dark blue and copper green. To solve specific artistic tasks enamel, unlike glass, can be muffled.
Painting on enamel is fired in a muffle stove, or kiln, at a temperature of about 800°C. The enamel base melts; the paint sinks into it and, on cooling, is firmly fused with the base.
To make it more long-lasting and enhance the decorative effect, the painting on the enamel is covered, also by firing, with transparent, fusible glass.

SIZE: 2 3/4" x 1 3/4"