Russian Priests Blessing Cross d.1791An exceptional Russian Orthodox priests blessing and reliquary cross, dated 1791, conceived on a commanding altar scale and richly worked in silver gilt. The cross is executed in solid 84 standard silver (zolotniki), subsequently fire gilded, in keeping with late 18th century Russian ecclesiastical practice. This high silver content (. 875) was the prescribed Imperial standard, while the gilding served both symbolic and practical purposes: enhancing