Image: Ethiopian - Hand Cross - Walters 52297

Description: Ethiopian metal hand crosses are typically constructed from silver, brass, or iron that has been hammered into shape rather than cast using the lost-wax method. These objects draw their formal inspiration from processional crosses, and their creators often imitated styles that had been developed at great religious centers such as Lalibala. The formal relationship of the pierced hand cross to lattice work processional crosses is evident in the drilled holes of its body, an attempt to imitate the form of larger objects. Although their reliance on pre-existing models makes hand crosses difficult to date, these objects were an important means of transmitting local styles, particularly as they were designed to be portable.
Title: Hand Cross
Credit: Walters Art Museum: Home page  Info about artwork
Author: Anonymous (Ethiopia)
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Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No