Details

LOT 1475

Ethiopian Maskal Cross with Ge'ez Inscriptions

15TH-16TH CENTURY A.D.

11 1/2 in. (16 in.) (500 grams, 29 cm high (43 cm high including stand)).

A large bifacial wooden hand cross with engraved interlace borders and stylised flowers around crosses to one side, and blessing inscriptions in Ge'ez to the other framed by foliage; mounted on a custom-made display stand.

Provenance

Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003.
UK private collection.

Literature

Cf. Korabiewicz, W., The Ethiopian cross, Addis Ababa, 1973, figs 3, 4, 5, for similar.

Footnotes

Ethiopian crosses, called in Amharic Maskal are divided into four main types: a) handcrosses, which can be large (22 to 53 cm) or small (14 to 21cm); b) processional crosses, usually measuring 22-60cm; c) pectoral or neck crosses, measuring 1-10cm; d) apex or architectural crosses, measuring 50-150cm. Our maskal belongs to the large hand cross category, probably of Havaria group, most common in the Shoa and Gojam provinces. The inscription reads from top to bottom: Sdar Alazar (name of locality) – Egzten nute mäsqäl (cross) on the left side, and Egzten Jesus (on the right side) followed by Adoneh Gavriil – Welde Hannah – Welde Michail. The cross invokes the blessing of God through the three Saints Hannah, Michael, Gabriel, who can be also the names related to the family of the priest who once owned the cross.