Rare Antique Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Cross Silver Pendant, Ethiopia Africa

Description

This is an antique handmade authentic Ethiopian Coptic Christian cross pendant which measures 2.57 inches long by 1.82 inches wide.
Worn rustic condition. This pendant has been worn more than one lifetime.
The bail on this cross was completely worn through and the previous owner pinched it back together, after which it was worn so long that the pinch formed a new bail by the metal naturally forming together from wear. Still wearable and stringable with a little surface patina
. Also, this cross shows very, very slight evidence that it was once gold plated, almost all of the plating has been completely worn off, but signs of very light residue is present upon viewing under a bright light. This residue was not able to be captured in the photo and is a very, very light residue which is barely noticeable. Well off members of the Church and Priests sometimes, but very rarely had these gold plated crosses. Most of these crosses due to the limited gold plating process available to the Ethiopian metalsmiths at the time did not survive with the gold plating still intact as it was easily worn off after many years of use. This is an amazing tribally used / worn specimen.
This is a rare antique silver pendant from Ethiopia which is very desirable and would look great used in jewelry applications or would fit right into any Ethiopian collection.
I combine shipping on multiple orders so please check out my eBay store Mountainamma's Marketplace where I have thousands of items to browse. For buyers of multiple items please use the request invoice button or message me before checking out for help combining shipping fees.
Ethiopian Christians have worn neck crosses for over 1,600 years and the symbolic art of the cross is a very important part of their religious life which expresses their love, belief and devotion to God.
Hardly any silver was mined in Ethiopia therefore the Maria Theresa Thaler silver coin served as the primary source of silver used by Ethiopian metalsmiths to create articles of jewelry such as this antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian neck cross. The different designs of Ethiopian cross pendants represent towns or areas of the Ethiopian highlands. These antique silver crosses are either cast by the lost wax method using melted Maria Theresa Thaler coins or cut right from a Maria Theresa Thaler coin. These antique Ethiopian Coptic crosses were worn a lifetime and passed down through generations and were often repaired by the metalsmiths when needed.