Photos

Comments

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  Betty September 16, 2014 at 4:21pm

  very cute little crosses, ingrid. i am always wondering about the filigree ones. are they traditional, or were they only introduced later? most of them seem to have a "european-style" bail.
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  ingrid Langerak September 16, 2014 at 5:59pm

  Hi Betty, as far as I know they are from the 1950 period.  It are only the best skilled jewellers who can do this very fine work.. Almost pure silver is being used for that in order to be able to form the shapes.  Pure silver is very soft and easy to bend.  If lesser quality is used it is more brittle and will break.  I think they are so refined even in gold they look lovely.  I know in the 1965 these were popular object bought by foreigners as well.
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  Eva Baby September 16, 2014 at 8:55pm

  very nice crosses! I have one of the filigree type from a friend who bought it directly in Ethiopia, years ago.  These here all have different styles and designs, it is quite amazing!
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  Betty September 17, 2014 at 8:10am

  Thanks a lot Ingrid. I have just some time in Armenia, and vaguely remembered you telling us that there was an Art Academy in Addis in the 1950\60s which employed armenian silversmith as teachers. having seen a lot of superb filigree work in Armenia, I wondered about a possible influence...