Lot 232
East Africa, Ethiopia, ca. mid-20th century CE. This is a lovely collection of 4 nickel-silver and silver alloy pendants in the traditional and distinctive Coptic Ethiopian style! The largest is a nickel-silver with a 28% silver content, an intricate openwork of lattice work, with a pair of birds flanking the upper and lower arms and the surface is lightly incised and stamped with liner outlines and circles. The top is pierced and threaded on a brass ring loop for suspension and is wearable as a pendant. The other 3 are nickel-silver (brass) and each have a similar openwork cruciform or geometric star shapes with spade-shaped crosses along the peripheries. Each has an integral suspension loop at the top and are wearable as well. Size of largest pendant: 3.3" L x 3.5" W (8.4 cm x 8.9 cm); silver quality: 28%; weight: 29 grams
Ethiopian Christianity is one of the most distinctive traditions of the religion, founded much earlier than Christianity in most of the rest of Africa thanks to missions from the 1st century until the 4th century, when St. Frumentius of Tyre converted King Ezana. As a result, Ethiopia developed a distinctly African form of Christianity. Geometric designs are characteristic of Ethiopian art, the intertwining lattice style possesses layers of meaning and suggestions of order particular to the culture, symbolizing eternal life and relating to the nature of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection
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#140320
- Condition: All are wearable and intact. Minor surface nicks and abrasions from previous use. Darkening toning and some yellowing of nickel surfaces.
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