Croix de procession "yämäsor mäsqäl", 19e siècle ·  Éthiopie · ID: 3049626

Description

copper alloy (brass, bronze), base

Very beautiful object with particularly filigree openwork ornamentation and linear engravings showing characters and religious motifs (Mary with the Child - Saint George).

From the time of the adoption of Christianity - around 340 A.D. - crosses have been omnipresent not only as liturgical objects in the region’s churches and monasteries, but also in popular devotion and everyday life.

Functioning as apotropaic objects to ward off evil spirits and as spiritual emblem of the entire community, members of the clergy carry the large-scale metal processional crosses on poles during processions and liturgical ceremonies.

Like most liturgical devices, the crosses were mainly produced in monastic workshops by means of the lost-wax process thereby always producing a unique object.