Pendant cross

Object Details

Ethiopian Orthodox

Label Text

Silver pendant crosses are worn in Ethiopia as professions of the Christian faith, a tradition begun in the 15th century with crosses of wood and other metals. The Maria Theresa thaler, an 18th-century Austrian coin popular in Africa in the 19th century, was often melted down and transformed into silver pendant crosses.

Description

Cast silver alloy pendant cross composed of four equal arm in openwork circles. The arms and base have trefoil extensions, and incised designs. Pendant has hinged suspension loop on triangle with openwork X.

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Miller, Alexandria, Virginia, acquired Addis Ababa, 1971

Published References

Robbins, Warren M. and Nancy Ingram Nooter. 1989. African Art in American Collections. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, p. 510, no. 1309.

Content Statement

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Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Miller

19th to mid-20th century

Object number

71-23-13

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Jewelry

Medium

Silver alloy

Dimensions

H x W x D: 7.9 x 4.8 x 0.9 cm (3 1/8 x 1 7/8 x 3/8 in.)

Geography

Ethiopia

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

cross

male

Record ID

nmafa_71-23-13

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7138831f0-a1e3-442c-bd2d-48bde82ea323