Collection for the Cross of Ephrosinja Polotskaua. Enamels
A jewelry ensemble–staurotheke with enamels, dedicated to the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk
“Staurotheke of the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk” is an outstanding example of Old Russian jewelry and enamel art, recreating the stylistics of the Byzantine tradition. On the golden plates, decorated with cloisonné enamel, are depicted archangels, symbolic representations of the Throne of the Lord, as well as the figures of Saints Constantine and Helena.
The bright, saturated colors — emerald, sapphire, and purple — emphasize the sacred character of the images and enhance their decorative resonance. The enamels are devoid of illusionism: the figures are rendered flatly, with an emphasis on conventionality and symbolism, reflecting the theological orientation of the art.
This ensemble served as a reliquary, intended for the keeping and veneration of relics associated with the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, and stands as a rare testimony to the synthesis of the spiritual and the artistic in East Slavic culture.
