Tetrad with alder with mirror gilding, Chalice and Gospel

“The Word and the Chalice are together, for He who speaks in the Gospel Himself gives Himself in the Mystery”

The tetrapod stands before the iconostasis, and an icon of the feast is placed on it, to which the faithful approach. This tetrapod is handmade from alder and decorated with gold leaf with mirror gold. The deep cherry color of the body creates a rich background on which the golden carvings shine brightly: lace panels, twisted columns, and grapevines. The central panel is adorned with a Chalice against the backdrop of an open Gospel.

Product Description

The central panel of the facade combines two sanctuaries of the Liturgy: the open Gospel and the Chalice before it. The composition is framed by a lace ornament of acanthus and carved grilles, completely covered with gold leaf. The corners of the body are decorated with twisted columns with clusters and leaves of grapes, and along the cornice runs a gilded frieze of grapevines. A thin gold strip along the base completes the composition.

The upper part has a flat platform 200 mm wide and a sloped side 700 mm long for placing icons. The dimensions of the product are 1400 x 900 x 900 mm. The combination of the cherry body with mirror gold is particularly expressive in the warm light of candles and lamps.

Who It Is Suitable For, and Who It Is Not

Technical Specifications

Advantages of the Material

• Clarity of lace carving. The uniform texture of alder allows for cutting thin through curls of acanthus and grilles without chipping.
• Even coloring. Alder accepts staining well and evenly, so the rich cherry color of the body looks uniform.
• Stability of shape. Properly dried alder is less prone to cracking, which is important for large panels with deep relief.
• Shine of mirror gold leaf. On the smooth primed surface of alder, gold leaf lays evenly and gives a deep mirror shine.

Workshop Traditions

The tetrapod is made by the masters of the creative workshop of sacred products PIVTORAK & COMPANY in the city of Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The combination of dark wood with gilding has a long history in Ukrainian church art: it gives vessels a ceremonial quality without distracting from prayer. The workshop continues this tradition, creating each product by hand, from carving columns and lace to applying gold leaf.

Care

• Place the tetrapod away from heating devices and direct sunlight to prevent the body color from fading
• Maintain stable humidity in the temple without sharp temperature fluctuations
• Clean gilded details only with a dry soft cloth or soft brush, without water or cleaning agents
• Wipe cherry surfaces with a dry or slightly damp cloth and immediately dry them
• Remove dust from lace, grilles, and twisted columns with a soft brush
• Do not use abrasives, solvents, or aggressive household chemicals

“Gold on dark wood is like light shining in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

📞 +380678018040
✉️ ivanvakh@gmail.com

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