Antique Ethiopian Christian Church 14th-15th Century Bronze Processional Cross

Description

This is a very rare, antique, handmade, authentic 14th-15th century, bronze, Ethiopian Coptic Christian Processional Cross which was used for Ethiopian Christian religious church ceremonies in Northern Ethiopia, Africa. This authentic, hard to find treasure has been in my personal collection for eighteen years. This antique bronze processional cross measures 17 inches long by 13 inches wide and will come with the pictured wooden display stand. Ethiopia is the foundation of Africa's oldest Christian culture. This antique cross is a very powerful sacred piece not to be taken lightly and which deserves full respect. This Christian processional cross is very unique and would be a beautiful addition to any African art collection and would be perfect for adoring an altar. Very hard to come by specimen which does have some touches of surface patina and wear from use and age. This bronze antique Ethiopian Christian processional cross was used mounted on a wooden staff so as to be carried and held aloft during liturgical services and processions by the priests of the Ethiopian Christian Church. The roundish lower 'arms' are for the purpose of draping a colorful silk scarf through each side and behind the cross which then hangs down on either side of the staff symbolizing the veil of Mary. For the buyer of this cross I would suggest that you honor it in this way. I bought this piece eighteen years ago and have another antique cross from Ethiopia which I use on my altar so I am letting this one go although very hesitantly. I am praying that who gets this cross will take care of it the way it was meant to be cared for as this piece has been cared for by Christian Priests that lived in a sacred way in an Ethiopian Christian Church monastery. These authentic antique processional crosses are extremely rare to get now a days and this cross is a piece of Ethiopian History which I fear a lot of this history is becoming very lost. The Ethiopian church flourished with little outside contact until the early fifteenth century. Then occurred two centuries of European contact, bringing with it inevitable conflict, followed by another two centuries of isolation. For the larger part of its 1600-year-old history, the Ethiopian Orthodox church has proceeded on its own way, without significant influence from the outside world. It is because of this isolation that Ethiopian Christianity has retained much of its early symbolism and the raw simplicity of the very earliest Christian peoples. One of the oldest symbols adopted by the Church, the cross, retains its purest form in Ethiopia, where it can be found in three principal forms: the processional cross, hand cross and the pendant cross. Processional crosses are treasured by Ethiopian monasteries and are generally brought out on feast days during processionals through towns and villages. I would suggest for interested buyers to find the book "Crosses of Ethiopia The Sign of Faith. Evolution & Form" by Mario Di Salvo. Please check out my ebay store Mountainamma's Marketplace where I have thousands of treasures from Ethiopia and beyond to browse. For buyers of multiple items please message me for help with combining shipping fees before you make your purchases.