We have a vast collection of images here which have been shared over the years ...
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Comments
Dear Betty, this does look like a recently made cross, the engraved patterns are new to me. Could it be that they have used an old bail.? Is it possible to show me the bail standing for me to see the inner part on top? Dealers are very clever and try to find ways to fool buyers.
Thank you, Ingrid. Yes, everything is possible. All the crosses posted today (plus the lovely old Dessie cross you identified for me) were bought as a small collection together with about 10 more pieces of partly dubious age (at a very good price :-)). I will take some more pictures for you to see the bail of the above cross and the reverse.
Dear Ingrid, here are two more pictures of this piece, one showing the other side, the other the bail from the inside:
Betty, thank you for showing these close ups. The bail looks it is original now that I can see it from different angles, it has exact the same eyes on the cross as well as on the bail. It is a rather solid cross done in the Lost wax system and engraved (in this case rather deep) in an unusual style I would say rather a renewed style . More a vintage cross. And I do like its robustness. Very individual.
Now I am wondering it is silver.?
Thank you so much for looking at this piece again, Ingrid. And yes, it is around 600/1000 silver.
I agree that this is more of a vintage piece, additionally one that was not worn very much. But as you say, it's well-executed and quite appealing.
It comes from a collection including old, vintage and quite newish pieces.
Dear Betty, It is a nice collectable cross , robust and well balanced. An nice addition that it is part silver.
I am also quite pleased that there is a whole new trend(very active) in making new design crosses very skilled, done in nickel and brass or( copper) and than plated. Of good workmanship. So a new tourist
market. Would also be exciting in copper. Because the authentic old crosses are becoming so scattered and scares but this way it will continue the skill and the interest of both the Ethiopian designers and the curiosity from the foreign market.
Gr. Ingrid