Silver - Cross pendant - Ancient Coptic Cross

Ancient Coptic Cross in Silver-plated
Ethiopia
First half of the 20th century

Dimensions 7.5 cm x 4.5 cm
Weight 22.86 g

Splendid ancient Coptic cross in silver with engravings.
Made in Ethiopia in the first half of the 20th century, it does not bear marks; being an ethnographic and antique artifact, a test was performed on the back of the cross that confirmed the presence of silver (if it turns red as in the photo it is silver, otherwise it remains transparent).
In excellent condition, considering its age and ethnic craftsmanship.

Tracked shipment via courier

A bit of history...

Ethiopia stands out among Christian lands for the incomparable importance of the cross in the life of its people and for the inexhaustible variety and complexity of the decorative motifs used to adorn cross-shaped objects of every kind.

Both in the textual culture and in the visual culture of Ethiopian Christians, the cross has been venerated for centuries as the most important source of physical and spiritual protection and as a fundamental distinctive sign of community and individual identity. Crosses of various shapes and sizes are widely used in religious and magical rituals, as well as in daily social interactions and personal experiences of people in different contexts. In some regions of Ethiopia, crosses adorn not only churches but also private homes, and they may appear embroidered not only on traditional clothing but even on the skin of people (tattooed, branded with fire, or incised on the forehead, on the hands, or on other parts of the body). Furthermore, some crosses are venerated as objects of miraculous origin and ownership.