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I had only seen images of such Ethiopian filigree crosses in books, but recently found this one offered as "large pendant" and purchased it for a few Euros. It's made of nickel or silver-plated copper and quite large (8x 11cm). The chain is handmade too. Unfortunately I know nothing more (age, regional origin)about this piece. Any info is highly welcome!
Wow! very nice! I have never seen such before! We have to hope for Ingrid (or someone else) to give us more Information on this. I have no idea! It Looks to me like a "snow Crystal", very Special, unusual, and rare. I am looking Forward to reading more about it, where it Comes from (Region), ethnical Group, etc.......! What a surprise!!! (this Piece, never heard or seen before!
Most unusual and beautiful work...Great find. Mixed style? Cant wait for more info...
Yes girls, it is very elaborate work. And skillfully done. It is a free translation of the Gondar Cross meant for the tourist market in the 1960 - 1970 years. They were sold on the street in those days. That was the only place I had seen them being sold. They were very white in color and supposed to be nickel. But I still wonder how they could make all these rosettes with nickel, because nickel is a rather brittle substance. Maybe it would be fun to have it checked. The chain is for sure silver, I know this style of work, as being made at the Art en Craft School (State School) in the 1962- 1975. Were they trained the jewellery craft and other crafts. The teachers were Armenians.
Here comes the question like the earlier discussion about touristic art. These were certainly skilfully made, time consuming. Not like the ones which took over in 1980 and are now on the market as genuine Eth. Coptic crosses. They were only sold in Addis Ababa, so I suspect that they were produced in Addis Ababa. And see now well appreciated. Have I added to your confusion?
Thanks a lot Ingrid! I had a feeling it might be a style that was rather urban, but not that it was made for the Tourist market.
This example here is definitely made of copper - it clearly shines through at the back were the thin layer of silver? plating has rubbed of. The chain is very beautiful. Below some more pics from the book I first saw them in (H. Skrobucha "Äthiopische Kreuze. Funktionen. Brauchtum, Formen", 1983). Sorry for the bad quality photos...
And another one:
still beautiful...Just a pleasant creative variation on the traditional forms.
now, that we know more (thanks to Ingrid), I agree with Chantal, it is still beautiful, a Special Variation and certainly worth collecting.
These crosses are original ones, Gondar crosses I think worn by ranking priests. It sense also an very strong aura. Wow, just look at it. I have only a couple of these types (in smaller form, will make a photo on monday. (have to work the week-end. Actual Germany has a lot of documentation on Ethiopia (They are always deeply interested in culture (there was also an German Goethe Cultural Research Institution in Addis Ababa. The french also collected a lot and did their studies. But nothing beads the Vatican in Rome they have an enormous collection and deep going research. So you have a lot of homework to read so also Eva, with such a library. Great.
Good appreciation Chantal, that is why in the olden days many people were collecting them, because of all the personal fantasy decoration made of the traditional shapes by the all jewellers. The crosses were never made in mass production. One day I will make some tableaux to give you some idea.
Who knows our Ethiopian circle might expand in appreciation of how suffisticated they are.
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