Baptism set Kazan Mother of God 925 silver gilded — Baptism spoon + cross pendant

In Orthodox families, the Kazan Mother of God icon is the image that hangs over the cradle. It is precisely she who sits at the head of this spoon: Mary with the Child in a medallion, the figures gilded, the background around them matte silver. Below this is a handle full of openwork tendrils. An Orthodox cross is attached to the eyelet. Both pieces are presented in a hinged case, with a satin ribbon around the handle.

What's in the Case

Two pieces with two different life paths. The spoon measures 11.3 centimeters and weighs around 13 grams — short enough for a child's hand, heavy enough to feel substantial. It stays in the home and later moves to a display cabinet. The cross pendant is two centimeters long and weighs one gram; it waits until the child is old enough to wear it. Together, the set weighs approximately 14 grams of 925 silver.

A chain is deliberately not included — parents decide on the length and timing. The same combination is also available in an antique blackened finish, where the icon is darkly drawn instead of golden. Further combinations can be found under Baptism Gift Sets.

The Kazan Mother of God — Why Her?

The icon of the Mother of God of Kazan is the most widespread Marian icon in Russia. It was found in Kazan in 1579, and over the centuries it became the icon given to people at the beginning of their lives: for baptism, for weddings, when moving into a new home. In Orthodox families, it is the image that hangs over the cradle — the Mother of God as protection for mother and child.

On the medallion, she is depicted in the classic pose: Mary in a half-figure with the Child at her side, both heads slightly inclined towards each other, with halos around their heads. To the right and left are the Cyrillic abbreviations for "Mother of God." The handle below bears no child motif, but openwork tendrils in ancient Russian ornament — the same visual language known from icon frames.

The set is therefore not limited to boys or girls: no pink, no blue. Related pieces can be found under Orthodox Gifts in 925 Silver.

This spoon design is available with three different icons — in addition to this motif, there's Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, and Christ Pantocrator. The spoon body is the same for all; the medallion at the top of the handle is exchanged, and with it, the blessing on the back. If you have several godchildren, you can choose three related yet distinct gifts.

Silver with Partial Gold Plating

The spoon and cross are made of 925 sterling silver. Specifically, the figure of the icon in the medallion is gilded — not the entire piece. This contrast is the real artistic trick: the golden image stands out from the matte silver background, just as an icon emerges from its frame. Everything else — handle, tendrils, bowl, and the cross pendant — remains bright polished silver.

Polishing is done by hand, with cotton rolls, to a mirror finish and without rhodium plating. This is a conscious decision by the manufacturer: a rhodium layer would delay tarnishing but also change the warm tone of the silver. Here, you see the silver itself — and can care for it with a polishing cloth without damaging a coating.

For clarification, because it is often confused with Russian silver: This piece does not feature niello. Niello is a black metal paste that is melted into engraved lines — a completely different technique from Veliky Ustyug. If you are looking for this dark appearance, you will find it in the Nielloa Baptism Collection.

The Reverse Side: Blessing, Tendrils, and Space for a Name

The spoon is also designed on the back — you only see this when you turn it over. On the back of the medallion is an embossed blessing in three lines of Cyrillic script: "Пресвятая Богородице, спаси нас" — "Most Holy Mother of God, save us." This is the short, everyday invocation of the Mother of God — the phrase Orthodox families speak in prayer. So the icon is present on one side in image and on the other in word.

The back of the bowl features a circumferential border of delicate spiral tendrils, enclosing a mirror-polished central field and converging into a denser tendril motif at the tip of the spoon. A detail no one sees while eating — and yet it is there. This is precisely how you recognize a piece that was not built merely for first glance.

In between, on the back of the stem below the medallion, the surface remains deliberately smooth and mirror-polished. There is space here for an engraving: a short name, and with concise writing, additionally the baptismal date. More does not fit — the stem tapers downwards. But that is exactly enough for the one line that makes a gift a specific gift.

You can view all three areas without holding the spoon: In the image gallery above, there is a product video that rotates the set — first the front with the icon, then the back with the blessing, engraving area, and tendril border. The detail panel in the gallery also shows the same three areas in close-up.

Consecrated in Kolchugino

The pieces in this series are consecrated before delivery — by the local Orthodox community of the Svyato-Pokrovsky Church in Kolchugino, Vladimir region, Alexandrov Eparchy of the Moscow Patriarchate. A small certificate to this effect is included in the case.

For Orthodox families, this is often the point at which a baptismal gift differs from just a pretty spoon.

How to Recognize Real Silver

Each piece comes with a sealed tag from the factory. It states the manufacturer, designation, item number, silver weight, and a unique identification number (UIN). In addition, there is the stamped 925 hallmark, the manufacturer's name mark and ArgentA's mark, and the quality control stamp.

The name mark is clearly structured: The first letter stands for the year of manufacture, the second for the responsible state assay office, and the rest for the company. The UIN also allows the piece to be looked up in the state register for precious metals. It sounds technical — but in everyday life, it is precisely what verifiably makes the difference between silver and silver-plated.

The Orthodox Cross

The pendant is small yet fully crafted: The ends of the arms are clover-shaped, the corpus is in relief in the center, and the ornament continues below to the foot. The three-leafed ends symbolize the Trinity in Christian iconography; this form is widely used in Orthodox baptismal crosses. The surface remains brightly polished — without enamel, without gilding. It is the same cross in all sets of this series.

Care: To Keep the Gold Shining

After use, warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth are sufficient. No dishwasher and no abrasive cleaners — the gilding is a thin layer and cannot withstand scrubbing. Use a silver polishing cloth only on the silver surfaces, not on the gilded medallion. Silver dipping baths are generally not recommended for partially gilded pieces. This is explained in detail in our Silver Care Instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Baptism Set

From what age is the spoon suitable?
As cutlery, from weaning age. It is usually given earlier — for baptism, often already at birth.

Is the entire spoon gilded?
No, only the figure of the icon in the medallion. This precise contrast makes the image legible. The handle, bowl, and cross remain bright silver.

Can the spoon be engraved?
Yes — technically, engraving is possible on this spoon, but it can only be ordered upon request. Both aspects go together and one does not restrict the other:

Technically: The back of the stem below the medallion is smooth and mirror-polished — a blank space specifically for this purpose. There is room for a short first name; with concise writing, the baptismal date can also fit below it. Approximately 20 characters is a guideline, not a firm promise: The stem tapers downwards, so the writing style also plays a role.

Ordering process: In the shop, engraving cannot be added directly to the cart. Please contact us briefly before ordering — we will coordinate the text, writing style, and placement and confirm what will fit on this piece. This way, we don't promise anything that won't fit in the end.

The back of the medallion (where the embossed blessing is), the back of the bowl (where the tendril border runs), and the cross pendant (2 cm large and worked on both sides) are not engravable.

Is the set for a girl or a boy?
For both. It is free of colored enamel and is gender-neutral — practical if you are giving a gift before birth or do not know the gender.

Is the set also suitable for a Catholic or Protestant baptism?
The craftsmanship is Orthodox-influenced — those who consciously seek this will find exactly that here. However, a cross remains a cross, and a silver baptismal spoon is a classic in all denominations. If you would like the blessing on the back explained: It is translated in this description.

Does it come with a chain?
No. The set includes a spoon and pendant; the parents choose the chain later to suit the child's age.

How else can the set be personalized?
Via a SilberVerse card: a printed card with a verse or dedication included with the gift. How this works is described under About SilberVerse. The card and engraving can be combined.

Is there a product video?
Yes, in the image gallery above. The set is rotated and shown up close — front with the icon, back with blessing, engraving area, and tendril border, plus the cross pendant individually. Anyone who wants to know how the piece feels in hand and how large it really is will see it more clearly there than in any still image.

Is silver safe for a baby?
925 Sterling silver has been common for cutlery for centuries and is nickel-free. Like all children's cutlery, the spoon should be used under supervision; due to its size, the pendant is not suitable for infants.