Title

Hand Cross

Creator

Preview

Geography

Ethiopia, Africa

Culture

Ethiopian

Medium

Metal alloy

Dimensions

6 ¹/₁₆ ✕ 2 ⁵/₁₆ ✕ ¹/₈ in. (15.4 ✕ 5.8 ✕ 0.3 cm)

2.67 oz. (75.7 g)

Credit Line

Bequest of David P. Harris ('46), 2020

Accession Number

2020.43

Provenance

Purchased by David P. Harris from the Guthaim Gallery Inc. in New York on August 15, 1977.

Condition

Surface exhibits pitting throughout.

References

Brad Hostetler, and Lynn Jones, eds., Ethiopian Objects in the Blick-Harris Study Collection: Art, Context, and the Persistence of Form, Peregrinations: Journal of Medieval Art & Architecture 8, no. 1 (Spring 2022): pp. 5–25, 67–75, 98–100, cat. 8. https://digital.kenyon.edu/perejournal/vol8/iss1/1/

Description

This hand cross was cast in one piece. The form of the cross consists of four triangular-shaped arms of equal length and size converging at a single, central point, which itself has four small pointed protrusions. Each arm features a cruciform finial with elongated and rounded lateral arms articulated by small notches. Variations on these finial-cross forms are found at both ends of the shaft. The base includes a two-bulbed finial attached to the lower edge.

Small decorative elements are visible on both sides, including horizontal bands and X-shaped incisions on the shaft, incised circles on the base, and small accent dots on the cross, shaft, and base.

Lynn Jones, in Peregrinations: Journal of Medieval Art & Architecture 8, no. 1 (Spring 2022): 98. https://digital.kenyon.edu/perejournal/vol8/iss1/1/