Christening Set Nicholas 925 Silver Gold Plated — Christening Spoon + Cross Pendant

Saint Nicholas is the saint to whom parents in Orthodoxy entrust their children. He is precisely the one at the head of the spoon: an icon in a medallion, the figure of the saint gilded, the background all around is matte silver. Below it, a handle full of openwork tendrils. An Orthodox cross is attached to the eyelet. Both pieces lie in the hinged case, 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 about 13 grams — short enough for a child's hand, heavy enough to feel substantial. It stays in the house and later moves to the 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 — the length and timing are decided by the parents. The same combination is also available in antique blackened finish, where the icon is drawn dark instead of golden. Further combinations can be found under Baptism Gift Sets.

Nicholas the Wonderworker — Why Him of All Saints?

Nicholas of Myra, called "Nicholas the Wonderworker" in the East, is the saint who is called upon first for children. He is considered the patron saint of children, travelers, and seafarers — and is thus the usual companion for a child just starting out in Orthodox families. On the medallion, the icon shows him in bishop's vestments, his right hand raised in blessing, the Gospel in his left. To his right and left are the Cyrillic abbreviations for "Saint Nicholas, Wonderworker".

The handle below does not feature a children's motif, but rather 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, just silver and gold. Related pieces can be found under Orthodox Gifts in 925 Silver.

This spoon shape is available with three different icons – in addition to this motif, with the Kazan Mother of God and with 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. Those with several godchildren can thus choose three cohesive yet distinct gifts.

Silver with Partial Gold Plating

Spoon and cross are made of 925 sterling silver. The figure of the saint in the medallion is specifically gilded — not the entire piece. This contrast is the real artistic touch: the golden Nicholas emerges 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 deliberate 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 clarity, because it is often confused with Russian silver: This piece bears no niello. Niello is a black metal paste melted into engraved lines — a completely different technique from Veliky Ustyug. Those looking for this dark look will find it in the Nielloa Baptism Collection.

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 that effect is included in the case.

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

How to Recognize Real Silver

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

The manufacturer's mark is legibly structured: the first letter stands for the year of manufacture, the second for the responsible state inspection body, and the remaining ones for the operating company. The UIN also allows the piece to be looked up in the state register for precious metals. This may sound technical, but in everyday life, it is precisely what makes the difference between silver and silver-plated verifiable.

The Back: Blessing, Tendrils, and Space for a Name

The spoon is also designed on the back — you only see it when you turn it over. On the back of the medallion, there is a raised blessing in four lines of Cyrillic script: "Святителю отче Николае, моли Бога о мне" — "Holy Father Nicholas, pray to God for me." This is the traditional Orthodox invocation of the saint, as spoken in prayer. So the saint is on one side in image and on the other in word.

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

In between, on the back of the handle below the medallion, the surface remains deliberately smooth and mirror-polished. This is where a personalized engraving can be added: a short name, and with concise writing, also the baptism date. More won't fit — the handle tapers downwards. But that's exactly enough for the one line that turns a gift into a special gift.

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

The Orthodox Cross

The pendant is small yet fully crafted: the ends of the arms taper into a trefoil shape, the corpus sits in relief in the middle, and the ornament continues down to the foot. The three-leaf ends represent the Trinity in Christian iconography; this form is widespread in Orthodox baptismal crosses. The surface remains brightly polished — without enamel, without gilding.

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 immersion baths are generally not recommended for partially gilded pieces. This is detailed in our silver care instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Baptismal Set

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

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

Is the set for a girl or a boy?
For both. It is made without colored enamel and is gender-neutral — practical if you are giving a gift before birth or don't know the gender.

Is the set also suitable for a Catholic or Protestant baptism?
Yes. Saint Nicholas is revered in all three denominations, and a cross is a cross. The craftsmanship is distinctly Orthodox — those who consciously seek this will find exactly that here; those who do not will still receive a classic baptismal gift.

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.

Can the spoon be engraved?
Yes — technically, engraving is possible on this spoon, but it can only be ordered upon request. Both go hand in hand and one is not a limitation of the other:

Technically: The back of the handle 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 baptism date can also fit below it. Approximately 20 characters is the guideline, not a fixed promise: the handle tapers downwards, so the writing style plays a role.

Ordering process: The engraving cannot be added directly to the shopping cart in the shop. 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 end up on it.

Not engravable are the back of the medallion (where the raised blessing is located), the back of the spoon bowl (where the tendril border runs), and the cross pendant (2 cm in size and crafted on both sides).

How else can the set be personalized?
Via a SilberVerse card: a printed card with a verse or dedication that accompanies the gift. Examples can be found in the SilberVerse Card Gallery. 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 surface and tendril border, plus the cross pendant individually. Anyone who wants to know how the piece feels in hand and how big 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 any children's cutlery, the spoon should be used under supervision; the pendant is not for infants due to its size.