Photos

Comments

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  Betty February 20, 2014 at 2:39pm

  Here's another one for the Ethiopia-Experts: I recently bought this tiny little silver cross. It measures 1.9 by 2.4 cm. The seller just called it "orthodox cross", and was not sure of it's origin. However it came from the same source as two other crosses that were doubtlessly of Ethiopian origin. 
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  Alaa eddine SAGID February 20, 2014 at 4:23pm

  Such a lovely pendant
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  Eva Baby February 20, 2014 at 4:35pm

  nice! It could be a Dese cross from Ethiopia. Lets see what Ingrid says. I include a cut-out from the table of Africa Adorned, if it is the cross on top left (that one on the pic is hinged), it would be an Ethiopian Dese cross... or the one at right, then a Gojam or Gonder,   but I am not the expert.
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  ingrid Langerak February 20, 2014 at 5:01pm

  In the first place it is an Ethiopian coptic cross, basically it comes under the Solomonic shape cross with the ramshorns. Solomon cross is also commonly named as the basic Shoa cross or also the Maltese cross.  It is true that in the Dessie town it is favored and are often of a small demention. Your  lovely example has been well worn so worn that the eye patterns are almost faded (the protective eyes).  That it is well worn you can also see at the eye were it has been eroded from thicker at the base and thinned out on too sometimes cut through(woolen threat can be very mischievous). This mostly with the proper silver material.  All in all a warm lovely cross of at least 60 years old.
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  Preethi February 21, 2014 at 8:19am

  Beautiful - worn smooth!
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  Betty February 21, 2014 at 3:16pm

  Thank you all (especially Eva and Ingrid!) for your comments and help identifying this cute little cross. According to the seller it's almost 100 years old, but of course there is no way to confirm this. But 60+ years - as Ingrid said - seems impressive enough to me :-)).

  I liked it because of its small size (though I also love the big and bold pieces) and also because it's so wonderfully worn smooth...