Amhara artist. Processional Cross (qäqwami mäsqäl), 13th or 14th century. Copper alloy, 10 × 4 3/4 × 1 in. (25.4 × 12.1 × 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eric Goode, 2000.95.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 2000.95.1_front_PS9.jpg)
Amhara artist. Processional Cross (qäqwami mäsqäl), 13th or 14th century. Copper alloy, 10 × 4 3/4 × 1 in. (25.4 × 12.1 × 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eric Goode, 2000.95.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.95.1_SL1.jpg)
Amhara artist. Processional Cross (qäqwami mäsqäl), 13th or 14th century. Copper alloy, 10 × 4 3/4 × 1 in. (25.4 × 12.1 × 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eric Goode, 2000.95.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 2000.95.1_back_PS9.jpg)
Processional Cross (qäqwami mäsqäl)
Arts of Africa
The African Kingdom of Aksum (present-day Ethiopia) adopted Christianity around 330 C.E., not long after the religion was first legalized in the Roman empire. Its artists have demonstrated extraordinary creativity in making crosses, which the Ethiopian Orthodox Church links both to Jesus’s Crucifixion and to the Tree of Life mentioned in the Book of Genesis. This interpretation is reflected in the foliate and natural forms present in this group of processional crosses. The elaborate interlaced motifs here first emerged during the medieval era. The cross on the right features incised images of archangels, saints, and the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child.
The symbol of the cross unites Christian communities worldwide and, like their Italian Catholic counterparts, Ethiopian Orthodox priests would have originally carried these crosses atop staffs for use during the liturgy and processions.
The symbol of the cross unites Christian communities worldwide and, like their Italian Catholic counterparts, Ethiopian Orthodox priests would have originally carried these crosses atop staffs for use during the liturgy and processions.
CULTURE
Amhara artist
MEDIUM
Copper alloy
DATES
13th or 14th century
DIMENSIONS
10 × 4 3/4 × 1 in. (25.4 × 12.1 × 2.5 cm)
mount (wall mount - m2): 10 × 4 3/4 × 7 in. (25.4 × 12.1 × 17.8 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of Africa
ACCESSION NUMBER
2000.95.1
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Eric Goode
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Cast bronze processional cross with rectangular openwork superstructure and socket with decagonal cross section. The superstructure has a central motif of five small cutout Greek crosses arranged in a larger Greek cross design. Two sets of three crosses form the vertical edges of the composition; three upper crosses appear to have broken off and been roughly sanded.
Condition: Good overall
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Amhara artist. Processional Cross (qäqwami mäsqäl), 13th or 14th century. Copper alloy, 10 × 4 3/4 × 1 in. (25.4 × 12.1 × 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eric Goode, 2000.95.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 2000.95.1_front_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 2000.95.1_front_PS9.jpg., 2019
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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