Two-tiered altar made of alder with a cabinet for the niche in the altar

“When the altar is integrated into the wall of the altar, it seems to grow into the temple itself”

The altar, or proscomidia table, stands in the altar, where the priest performs the proscomidia: the preparation of bread and wine for the Divine Liturgy. This altar is a special variant for altars where there is a niche in the wall: the back part of the product is made in the form of a pedestal that fits into the niche, while the front part extends into the altar. The product is handmade from alder, without gilding, and is completed with a carved superstructure featuring a cross.

Product Description

The altar has two tiers. The lower tier forms the base with a working surface, where the proscomidia is performed. Its facade is filled with a carved panel featuring acanthus ornamentation and a rosette with a cross in the center. Above the working surface rises the upper tier: a cabinet with two lattice doors, in the center of which is highlighted a medallion with a cross. Both tiers are framed with twisted columns, and carved friezes run under the working surface and above the cabinet.

The composition is completed with a tall carved superstructure adorned with lush acanthus ornamentation, crowned with an eight-pointed cross. Due to its vertical composition, the altar occupies little depth in the altar while simultaneously appearing as a cohesive architectural element. Since the product is built into a niche, the dimensions of the pedestal and the entire structure are tailored to the specific room.

Who it suits and who it doesn't

Technical Specifications

Advantages of the Material

• Lightness of the tall structure. Alder is lighter than oak, making the two-tier altar with superstructure easier to transport, lift, and fit into the niche.
• Cleanliness of the intricate carving. Uniform wood allows for the cutting of thin acanthus curls on the doors and crest without chipping.
• Stability of shape. Properly dried alder is less prone to deformation, ensuring that the cabinet doors close tightly over time.
• Natural beauty. The warm shade of alder without gilding gives the product a restrained and cozy appearance, and over the years, the wood acquires a deeper tone.

Workshop Traditions

The altar is made by the masters of the creative workshop of sacred products PIVTORAK & COMPANY in the city of Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. In old churches, the altar was often placed in a niche in the northern part of the altar, and the workshop continues this tradition by creating products tailored to specific architectural spaces. Each such altar is designed according to the dimensions of the niche, and all carvings, from the columns to the cross on the crest, are done by hand.

Care

• Before installation, ensure that the walls of the niche are dry, as moisture from the masonry harms the wood
• Maintain stable humidity in the altar without sharp temperature fluctuations to ensure the cabinet doors open freely
• Keep the product away from heating appliances and direct sunlight
• Dust from the lattice doors, crest, and columns should be removed with a soft brush
• Periodically care for the wood with wood care products, such as oil or wax
• Do not use abrasives, solvents, or aggressive household chemicals

“An item made for its place serves as if it has always been there”

📞 +380678018040
✉️ ivanvakh@gmail.com

The colors and shades of the wood in the photographs may differ slightly from the actual ones due to lighting conditions during shooting and the settings of your device's screen.