Traditional crosses and shrines are made of wood, mostly oak and pine, while sculptures — of linden. Since eventually wooden crosses begin to decay, they are usually repaired by changing bad parts, reinforcing, repainting and making sure that they’re firmly dug into the ground.
A shrine is a wood, sometimes brick (stone) memorial monument. It consists of a pole and a shrine at the top. A shrine construction may consist of one, two or three storeys. Wooden shrines are usually decorated in openwork, relief carvings or turned details, tin and polychromy. Brick shrines are massive, laconic and not as decorative.
Wooden crosses can feature all kinds of décor, ranging from very simple, almost undecorated to abundantly ornate crosses. Crossbars feature rectangular planks, spheres, planks with spheres, pyramids, diamonds, floral motifs or massive decorative crosses. The centre features a roofed wooden or metal sculpture of crucified Jesus or a shrine with Jesus’ sculpture.
Metal crosses used to be forged or cast of iron, villagers began building these since the 19th c. They were often mounted on stones or cement pedestals, decorated with geometric, floral, S and C-shaped ornaments. The centre used to feature a tin shrine or a metal figure of Jesus. Tombstone crosses also feature oval, etc. metal enamelled plates with inscriptions on the person buried. Metal crosses used to be painted in one colour, while their decorations — in another.
Stone crosses are laconic and feature moderate décor — hammered or relief patterns. The centre features a portrait or a cast metal figure of Jesus. At the foot of a cross there often was an inscription and sometimes — niches with sculptures.
