Carved wooden crucifix. Kiss of Peace. Balkans. Post-Byzantine.15th century

This crucifix is extended by a handle; the whole is carved from a single piece of wood. The crucifix portion is carved on both sides with narrative square compartments, each illustrating an episode from the Passion of Christ or the Nativity, in the Orthodox iconographic style. Beneath each square, inscriptions in the Cyrillic alphabet identify holy figures or scenes. The compartments are framed by geometric motifs and carved plants typical of post-Byzantine art. The handle is carved with geometric patterns and intertwined knots, some spaces are filled with bitumen or resin or simply secular grime, the style is medieval from the 13th-15th centuries. This type of crucifix is dated to the 15th-16th century, but here the presence of this medieval handle allows us to think that the crucifix dates from the beginning of the Post-Byzantine period, that is to say from the 15th century, a pivotal period when medieval influence was sometimes still marked. The excellent quality of the sculpture, its age, and its condition make this "Kiss of Peace" an exceptional work. It is interesting to compare it with the well-known kisses of peace that are preserved, one at the Louvre, another at the Métropolitan, and a third sold by an auction house in 2021. All three are visible on the internet; a refined eye will be able to judge the respective qualities, although our amateur photography does not value it. Finally, it's important to note that it's the only one with a handle, which seems essential for a kiss of peace. Was this an exceptional attribute, or have the others lost theirs?
Remarkable state of preservation; no repairs or grafting, only a few wormholes have perforated it.
Total length: approximately 28 cm.