wooden cross with ornate carvings on both sides; long stem with a square base; one side of square base has smaller squares carved within base with four leaf-like patterns in center, the other side differs with more ornate carvings as well as a diamond shape in center; bottom of cross extends beyond square base and geometric carvings in ornately scalloped base; top of stem has two 'arms' protruding below cross with geometric patterns carved into them; diamond shape with carvings just above arms; cross has concave limbs with protruding buds, all caved with ornate latticework and thin lines; diamond shape carved in center of cross with four small circles in each corner

Hand cross, 17th century

Unknown artist, expand_more

Wood, metalexpand_more

The David Draper Dayton Fundexpand_more  2017.1

On View in Gallery 254expand_more

Ethiopia was the first African nation to adopt Christianity, more than 1600 years ago. By the 1400s, Christian art in Ethiopia was flourishing, combining Christian imagery with an expressive use of pattern and form. Nowhere else, for instance, are there so many types of Christian crosses.

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Details
Title
Hand cross
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2017.1
Curator Approved

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wooden cross with ornate carvings on both sides; long stem with a square base; one side of square base has smaller squares carved within base with four leaf-like patterns in center, the other side differs with more ornate carvings as well as a diamond shape in center; bottom of cross extends beyond square base and geometric carvings in ornately scalloped base; top of stem has two 'arms' protruding below cross with geometric patterns carved into them; diamond shape with carvings just above arms; cross has concave limbs with protruding buds, all caved with ornate latticework and thin lines; diamond shape carved in center of cross with four small circles in each corner