Carved tetrapod made of alder with mirrored gilding for the temple

“Before the icon of the feast, the gaze stops, and the heart quietly comes to prayer”

The tetrapod occupies a special place in the temple: on it, before the iconostasis, the icon of the feast is placed, to which the faithful approach. This tetrapod is handmade from alder and decorated with mirror gold leaf. The white body is combined with golden carvings: grapevines along the cornice, twisted columns, and openwork panels. The slanted surface is designed for icons, thus the product combines the practicality of daily worship with festive solemnity.

Product Description

The body of the tetrapod has a clear rectangular shape with a profiled cornice and base. The corners are emphasized by twisted columns, and the side surfaces are filled with openwork carved panels with floral ornamentation. The upper part consists of a flat platform 200 mm wide and a slanted side 700 mm long, on which icons are placed. The white color of the body makes the golden carved elements particularly expressive when illuminated by candles and lamps.

The decoration is done with gold leaf using mirror gold. The mirror shine of the gold well reflects light and maintains the festive appearance of the product in the interior of the temple.

Who It Is Suitable For and Who It Is Not

Technical Specifications

Advantages of the Material

• Workability in Carving. Alder has a uniform dense structure, so it holds fine details of the ornament well: vine leaves, bunches, and curls of openwork panels.
• Shape Stability. Properly dried alder wood is less prone to cracking, which is important for a product with many carved elements.
• Naturalness. Wood is a traditional material for church utensils, and the product is handmade without artificial substitutes in its construction.
• Expressiveness of Gilding. Mirror gold leaf on the carved surface creates a deep shine, and the white body enhances the contrast of the golden details.

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. Kosiv has long been known for its carvers who pass down knowledge about wood processing from generation to generation. Each product of the workshop is created by hand, taking into account church tradition: from the choice of ornament motifs to proportions that are convenient during worship. The grapevine in the carving reminds us of the Eucharist and Christ's words about Himself as the true Vine.

Care Instructions

• Place the tetrapod away from heating batteries and direct sunlight
• Avoid excessive humidity in the room and sharp temperature fluctuations
• Wipe gilded elements only with a dry soft cloth or brush, without water and cleaning agents
• Clean white surfaces with a slightly damp cloth followed by drying
• Do not use aggressive household chemicals, abrasives, and solvents
• Ensure that candle wax does not get on the gilding; carefully remove hardened wax without metal tools

“Carved wood and gold serve one purpose: so that the icon of the feast stands before people with dignity and light”

📞 +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.