brass, consisting of two parts (spout and cross), cross in openwork design with figural engravings on both sides, slightly stained, wooden base;
the cross symbol is ubiquitous in Ethiopia. ?Meskel? commemorates the discovery of the true cross and goes back to the Christianization of Ethiopia in the 4th century AD. It is the most important holiday of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In Ethiopian Christianity the cross originally represented the suffering of Christ but more and more it now symbolizes the hopeful resurrection and the salvation from suffering, and is a powerful symbol of protection, above all against evil and harm. Over time, more and more shapes and varieties of crosses developed, mainly procession crosses, hand crosses as well as neck and pendant crosses. The procession cross is an important part of many liturgical acts as it serves as a blessing and is widely visible in festive processions. Like most liturgical devices, the crosses were mainly produced in monastic workshops by means of the lost-wax process thereby always producing a unique object.
M: 53 cm x 39 cm, M: 20,9 inch x 15,4 inch
Provenance:
Collection Sachau-Zeies, Wittlich, Germany
Lit.: Greve, Anna & Kerstin Volker-Saad (Hg.), Äthiopien und Deutschland, München, Berlin 2006, p. 176

See description