Sacral object

[AG2012]

Sacral object; 2.5 `` across. Silver, enamel and cut stones. No marks. It opens and there is carved wood depicting Virgin Mary and saints (apostles?).The other side of carved wood is different.The carving is hollow inside;one can place a fabric? or a scroll of paper? between two carved panels.

[JLDoggett]

My best guess from the pictures is a tourist piece made between the wars (1920-1939) in the Middle East. It would have to be tested for metal content. The stones appear to be rose cut garnets of iffy quality and the enamel is in very rough shape. The carving was done quickly and cheaply in, most likely, olivewood. They used scraps from making bigger items, though it may have had a blue material sandwiched between the panels. It has few curved carved lines and little care for refinement of the carving are elements that would have been claimed to show how old it was. However if truely old it would have been much more refined.

[AG2012]

Thank you.I was not aware of Middle-East makers.But have seen sacral objects made in South-East European Orthodox countries and much older, not the outstanding craftsmanship,either (enamel,stones).It should be ``Panaghia``.They were in the Turkish Empire at the time - not easy for them.I examined it again,it seems it was a part of much bigger object;a cross probably.Wood carving is not so bad,actually, having in mind its size and being hollow;two panels were made of a single piece of wood - not easy to carve inside.I would really like to see one of Middle-East items to compare.
Thank you again.