Gilt Reliquary Pendant

A central plaque from a brass triptych with standing nimbate Mother of God, dressed in a chlamys and tunica talaris, with her arms extended outward and the head turned to the right, surrounded by two groups of worshippers, arranged in three rows: the angels at the top, the right ones at the centre and prophets with angels at the bottom; two flags flying horizontally on each side of her head, surrounded by plant decorations, while the sun and moon are depicted at the two corners of the plaque, separated by an inscription in Russian; in the upper part, in the shape of an eastern dome, is represented the Holy Trinity, Father and Son, seated on a throne of clouds, a cross in the middle surmounted by a dove. 142 grams, 13 cm high

Fair condition.

Acquired on the UK art market, 2000s. Property of an Essex gentleman.

The icon represents the Intercession of Mary, 'Joy of all who sorrow'. It formed the central part of a triptych with the Mother of God at the centre, surmounted by iconography of veneration. The (here missing) other parts of the triptych were embossed with scenes of the lives of Christ or Mary.

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. 500 grams, 29 cm high (43 cm high including stand)



Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003. UK private collection.

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.

A gilt-silver dress pin composed of a round-section body and roughly spherical head, decorated with granules and filigree trefoils and roundels above and below a medial band. 2.8 grams, 62 mm



Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.