Antique Greek Orthodox Silver Cross Icon Greece Mount Athos 18th Century

Antique Greek orthodox double-sided, carved wood Blessing cross, Greece, Holy Mount Athos 18th century (1700-1800 A.D.)
 
The front is finely carved with an image of Christ crucified on the cross with the Greek alphabet lettering INBI (stands in Greek for Iesous o Nazoraios o Basileus ton Ioudaion: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews)
 
The reverse depicts a standing, robed figure of Mother of God holding the Divine Child (Panagia The Hodegetria) in gold gilded, silver casing with bulbous finials, mounted on a tubular stem attached by a screw to the repoussé and the engraved circular domed base. 

 
MEASUREMENTS: 16 cm x 5.7 cm (6.3 inches x 2 1⁄4 inches)
 
TOTAL WEIGHT: 52.9 grams. (1.87 ounces) 

 
CONDITION: The cross is in its condition as it was found, showing age and usage, the gold plating is worn, the rim of the base is slightly bent, minor flaw on the upper part of the stem below the cross, hair split on the joint of the rim with the base. 

 
Please see the photos as they are apart of the description.