Hand cross, 14th/15th century · Ethiopia · ID: 3041687
Description
bronze, cast in one piece, corpus in openwork design, handle-shaped projections on both sides of the spout, old age patina, on wooden base;
every Ethiopian clergyman always carried a hand cross with him. When he met a believer, he held the cross up to him. The believer then touched the cross adoringly with his forehead, and then kissed it. In addition it was used to drive away demons and to bless healing water.
The object Hand cross, 14th/15th century with the object ID 3041687 was last part of the auction 85th Tribal Art Auction at March 4, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 473.
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