Oak tetrapod with carved Chalice and gilding for the temple

“The oak grows for centuries to serve the temple even longer”

The tetrapod stands before the iconostasis as a place where the community honors the icon of the feast. This tetrapod is handcrafted from oak, and its carvings are complemented by gilding with mirror gold leaf. The natural texture of the wood remains exposed, and the gold only emphasizes certain details: the twists of the columns, the grilles with intricate patterns, and the reliefs. The central panel is adorned with a carved Eucharistic Cup, and the cornice is wrapped in grapevines.

Product Description

The body of the tetrapod is decorated with openwork carved panels featuring floral patterns, through which gilded grilles can be seen. In the center of the facade is a relief Cup symbolizing the Eucharist. The corners of the product are supported by twisted columns with carved vines, where the gilding highlights the most expressive twists. The profiled cornice is adorned with a continuous frieze of grapevines and clusters.

The upper part has a flat surface 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 restrained combination of the natural color of oak and spot gilding makes the tetrapod solemn but not overloaded.

Who It’s Suitable For and Who It’s Not

Technical Specifications

Material Advantages

• Strength of the wood. Oak belongs to the hardwood species, so the body and carved elements withstand daily use in the temple well.
• Durability. Oak products serve generations under proper conditions, and over time the wood acquires an even deeper, noble shade.
• Expressive texture. The characteristic pattern of oak fibers makes each product unique and does not require staining.
• Harmony with gilding. The warm natural color of oak creates a calm background on which the mirror gold leaf highlights only the most important details.

Workshop Traditions

The tetrapod is made by the craftsmen of the creative workshop of sacred products PIVTORAK & COMPANY in Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Oak has long been considered a tree of strength and longevity in the Carpathians, and it is from this wood that the carvers of Kosiv made the most responsible items for temples. The workshop preserves this approach: each column, panel, and cluster of vines is carved by hand, and gilding is applied only where it helps to read the image, rather than overshadowing the beauty of the wood itself.

Care

• Keep the tetrapod away from heating appliances and direct sunlight to avoid drying out the wood
• Maintain stable humidity in the temple without sharp temperature fluctuations
• Wipe wooden surfaces with a dry soft cloth; if necessary, polish with wood care products, avoiding gilded areas
• Clean gilded details only with a dry soft brush or cloth, without water and cleaning agents
• Remove dust from openwork panels and grilles with a soft brush
• Do not use abrasives, solvents, and aggressive household chemicals

“In strong wood and modest gold, there is the same simplicity as in a sincere prayer”

📞 +380678018040
✉️ ivanvakh@gmail.com

The colors and shades of the 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.