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, and has 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 pattern of braided rope 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 viewed from the front with a tall narrow form and a rounded top, showing a dark brown wood tone with lighter brown highlights and some blackened areas; the surface has repeated incised geometric patterns including diagonal hatched bands, chevron-like shapes, parallel lines, and carved grooves, as well as a curved raised central ridge running vertically and a pair of small round holes near the middle; the background is plain and light gray.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A06_269

License type

Rights managed

Available size

40.7Mb (831.5Kb) / 7.9in x 20.0in / 2372 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 pattern braided rope 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 viewed front tall narrow form rounded top showing dark brown wood tone lighter brown highlights blackened areas surface repeated incised geometric patterns diagonal hatched bands chevron- shapes parallel lines carved grooves well curved raised central ridge running vertically pair small round holes near middle background plain light gray.