Gilded tetrapod made of alder with a Chalice, Gospel, and red pedestal

“The gold of the temple is not for wealth, but to remind of the light of the Kingdom of God”

The tetrapod stands in the center of the temple in front of the iconostasis, where the faithful honor the icon of the feast. This tetrapod is handmade from alder and is almost entirely decorated with gold leaf mirror gilding: the gilded tabletop, cornice, columns, and all carvings. The red color is left only on the pedestal, background planes, and carved grilles, making the gold shine even brighter. The central panel is adorned with a Chalice against the backdrop of an open Gospel.

Product Description

On the central panel of the facade is a gilded relief: a Chalice in front of an open Gospel, reminding of the meal of the Word and the meal of the Eucharist. The relief is framed with an openwork ornament of acanthus, through which red carved grilles are visible. The corners of the body are decorated with twisted columns with clusters and leaves of grapes, and the gilded cornice is adorned with a frieze of grapevines. A thin gold stripe along the red pedestal completes the composition.

The upper part has a flat area 200 mm wide and a slanted side 700 mm long for placing icons. The dimensions of the product are 1400 x 900 x 900 mm. The combination of gold and red gives the tetrapod a special solemnity, which is especially appropriate on the days of great feasts.

Who it suits and who it does not

Technical Specifications

Advantages of the Material

• Ideal base for solid gilding. The smooth, uniform surface of alder after priming allows the gold leaf to lay evenly as a mirror-like layer even on large surfaces.
• Clarity of carving. Alder holds fine details well, so clusters, leaves, and acanthus scrolls retain their relief even under the layer of gilding.
• Light weight. Alder is lighter than oak, making it easier to transport and install a large tetrapod in the temple.
• Stability of shape. Properly dried wood is less prone to cracking, protecting the gilding from damage.

Workshop Traditions

The tetrapod is made by the masters of the creative workshop of sacred products PIVTORAK & COMPANY in the town of Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The combination of gold with red has ancient roots in church art: gold symbolizes Divine light, while red reminds of sacrificial love and the Blood of Christ. The workshop embodies these symbols in wood, performing the carvings by hand and covering them with gold leaf layer by layer.

Care

• Place the tetrapod away from heating appliances and direct sunlight
• Maintain stable humidity in the temple without sharp temperature fluctuations
• Clean gilded surfaces, including the tabletop, only with a dry soft cloth or a soft brush, without water and cleaning agents
• Wipe red surfaces with a dry or slightly damp cloth and dry immediately
• When placing an icon or candlestick on the tabletop, use a soft underlay or cover to avoid scratching the gilding
• Do not use abrasives, solvents, and aggressive household chemicals

“The feast in the temple begins with the icon before which the whole community bows”

📞 +380678018040
✉️ ivanvakh@gmail.com

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