Caption

Hand cross, Ethiopian workshop. The arms of the cross are rhombus-shaped, the tops decorated with volutes topped with trefoils. The handle, decorated at the top and bottom with volutes, transforms into a rhombus at the top and into a triangle with rounded tops at the bottom, becoming a rectangular plaque topped with a smaller triangle topped with a trefoil inset. Decoration on both sides, with four small circular openwork cutouts in the central part of the arms. Side A: In the center of the rhombus is a motif of an isosceles cross whose arms are topped with volutes and trefoil finials. The rhombus connecting the arms and handle is decorated with a quatrefoil motif. The handle has a vertical zigzag stripe. The triangle is filled with a geometric ornament enclosed in a rope-like frame. The plaque has a central square motif with marked diagonals, whose vertices are adjoined by four smaller squares, also with marked diagonals. The triangle under the plaque and the inset are decorated with a braided motif. Side B: Decoration matches Side A except the plaque, where the central square is inscribed in a circle. 16th–20th century, Ethiopia. Material: cross; height 28 cm, width 10.5 cm., A carved wooden object with a vertical elongated shape featuring ornate decorative motifs, showing a diamond-shaped top section with a central cutout and surrounding carved patterns, a narrow midsection with carved curves and scroll-like protrusions, and a rectangular lower portion with geometric carved panels; the wood appears in shades of brown with darker carved recesses and lighter worn highlights, set against a light gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A00_086

License type

Rights managed

Available size

68.7Mb (3.7Mb) / 13.3in x 20.0in / 4000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Hand cross Ethiopian workshop arms cross rhombus-shaped tops decorated volutes topped trefoils handle decorated top bottom volutes transforms rhombus triangle rounded tops becoming rectangular plaque topped smaller topped trefoil inset Decoration sides four small circular openwork cutouts central part Side A center motif isosceles cross trefoil finials rhombus connecting quatrefoil motif vertical zigzag stripe filled geometric ornament enclosed rope- frame plaque central square motif marked diagonals vertices adjoined four smaller squares also triangle under inset braided motif Side B Decoration matches Side except central square inscribed circle 16th–20th century Ethiopia Material height 28 cm width 10.5 cm carved wooden object vertical elongated shape featuring ornate decorative motifs showing diamond-shaped top section central cutout surrounding carved patterns narrow midsection carved curves scroll- protrusions rectangular lower portion geometric panels wood shades brown darker recesses lighter worn highlights set light gray background.