Photos

Comments

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  Peter Hoesli April 23, 2015 at 6:20pm

  Dear Betty; They are beautiful. I love the center piece made out of a Maria Theresa Thaler. With kind regards. Peter
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  Preethi April 24, 2015 at 8:17am

  Wonderful wear on these Betty. I love the impression from the Maria Theresa coin still visible, almost like a watermark.
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  Betty April 24, 2015 at 10:00am

  Thank you Preethi and Peter. The one on the left has also been cut from a Maria Theresia Thaler - you can see it on the other picture where the reverse side is shown. I must admit that I have a weakness for these crosses that were cut out of a coin. So simple and yet so attractive...
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  Thelma April 24, 2015 at 11:48am

  I love these crosses with their Maria Theresa images. They are very different in proportions and decorations. Do these Latin crosses vary from one place to another like the others you and Ingrid have  shown?
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  Betty April 24, 2015 at 2:22pm

  Hi Thelma, 

  As Ingrid wrote, they are called Solomonic or Shoan crosses (from the central province of Shoa) in Ethiopia. I have seen this type of crosses also in other regions. It is hard to say so whether are made there too, or just "travelled" there. Maybe Ingrid will be able to tell.... But you are right: they come in quite different shapes - some are even wider showing more of the original taler (see picture below):

  
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  ingrid Langerak April 25, 2015 at 8:27pm

  Dear Betty and Thelma, Ethiopian crosses do have their different shapes and design. This  in the olden days each Kingdom (now provinces) had their own head church with their own cross design.Especially in the highland kingdoms.  (mostly christians) when the Kingdoms became an Emperior they copied the crosses on popular demand.  And so they are made all over the country Ethiopia the choice of the jeweler and the client.  They are often Solomonic or Pectoral,  and sometimes not too clear, becasuse not all jewelers or cross makers are precise.  The thaler is not a design, just a practical come together, and good silver. Actual Thelma;s cross is more Solominic with all the arms the same length and Berry more Pectoral with one arm a bit longer, that is often the choice of the Shoa people a later more simpler design.   Now there are so many variations on the basic designs, simpler or very elaborately decorated etc. that they make a beautiful and never ending collector's item. Gr. Ingrid.
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  Thelma April 26, 2015 at 12:12pm

  Dear Ingrid, thank you very much for all this information about these crosses - such simple crosses to view and yet such a rich background story attaches to them. It needs to be written up, you know :)).
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  ingrid Langerak April 26, 2015 at 12:20pm

  Thank you Thelma.  Sometimes a picture or a question, triggers knowledge you have stored without realizing it.  I am sharing mine, just in case someone more powerful and organized, document it with their researched knowledge.

  Gr. Ingrid.
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  Betty April 28, 2015 at 5:01pm

  Only found your latest comments know, Ingrid. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. As you know, I whole-heartedly agree with Thelma that it should be written it down, as their aren't many people with your experience when it comes to Ethiopian jewellery... Warmly, Betty
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  ingrid Langerak April 28, 2015 at 10:56pm

  Thank you Betty. Gr. Ingrid