Silver Easter Egg with the Resurrection

Object/Artifact

-

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Silver Easter Egg with the Resurrection

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.119

Description

This silver egg is inscribed with a cross in the trifoliate or budded style (cloverleaf shaped ends) on the front. On the back is a Church Slavonic inscription ХРИСТОСВ ВОСКРЕСЕ which translates to "Christ is Risen". On the inside of the egg on the left and right are the initials M.K. for Finnish artist Matias Kilpelain and the 84 silver standard mark near the St. Petersburg crest. The painting in the middle shows Christ with shoulder length brown hair, mustache, and beard clothes in only a white robe. He holds one hand up in the blessing gesture and holds a rod with a flag in the other. He stands outside on a yellow background.

Collection

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.02

Source or Donor

Betsy Scheuring

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Made/Created

Artist

Matias Kilpelain

Date made

1854 - 1898

Place

* Untyped Place

St. Petersburg, Russia

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

Inside both halves of egg

Transcription

84 *, MK

Language

Cyrillic

Translation

84, St. Petersburg, MK (Matias Kilpelain)

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Icon

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Religious

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

2-1/8 in

Width

1-1/4 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This small Easter egg opens to reveal an image of the resurrected Christ. He appears in the center against a golden background, making the “State Form” of benediction with his right hand while holding a banner with his left hand. Above his halo is written IC XC, his sacred monograms. This icon was designed specifically for use and display during Easter, celebrating Christ’s Resurrection.