Caption

Processional cross, Ethiopian workshop. The pear-shaped frame depicts Christ on the cross with John and Mary standing at the foot of the cross in flat relief. The figures are schematically rendered. Christ is bearded, long-haired, with open eyes; his head is slightly tilted to his right left shoulder. He is dressed only in a loincloth and his feet are nailed with a single nail. The pear-shaped frame is decorated with a braided-rope pattern and bordered along the outer edge with an openwork braided ornament. The cone-shaped sleeve, flattened on the sides, is decorated with a vertical strip of braid and at the bottom with three horizontal strips of checkered, zigzag, and braided pattern. The arms connecting the sleeve with the cross take the form of an openwork braid. 20th century, Ethiopia. Cross; height 40.5 cm, width 16.0 cm., A carved wooden object in dark brown with a tall central figure flanked by two smaller figures, all carved in relief within an oval frame; the frame and surrounding area feature an intricate pattern of looping, interlacing shapes and scroll-like motifs carved into the wood; a tapered handle extends downward from the base of the carved scene and shows incised geometric and linear patterns; the background behind the object is a pale off-white or light gray.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A06_264

License type

Rights managed

Available size

46.8Mb (1.4Mb) / 9.1in x 20.0in / 2728 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Processional cross Ethiopian workshop pear-shaped frame depicts Christ cross John Mary standing foot flat relief figures schematically rendered Christ bearded long-haired open eyes head slightly tilted right left shoulder dressed loincloth feet nailed single nail pear-shaped frame decorated braided-rope pattern bordered outer edge openwork braided ornament cone-shaped sleeve flattened sides vertical strip braid bottom three horizontal strips checkered zigzag braided pattern arms connecting sleeve cross take form openwork braid 20th century Ethiopia Cross height 40.5 cm width 16.0 cm carved wooden object dark brown tall central figure flanked two smaller figures carved relief within oval frame frame surrounding area feature intricate pattern looping interlacing shapes scroll- motifs carved wood tapered handle extends downward base carved scene incised geometric linear patterns background object pale off-white light gray.