Rare Antique Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Cross Silver Pendant With Gold Plating

Excellent condition but some of the gold plating has worn off. This is a hinged antique silver pendant with gold painting / plating residue which comes from Ethiopia. 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.

The item "Rare Antique Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Cross Silver Pendant With Gold Plating" is in sale since Wednesday, April 12, 2017. This item is in the category "Antiques\Ethnographic\African\Jewelry". The seller is "mountainamma" and is located in Williams, Oregon. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, El salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Bahamas, Viet nam.

Maker: Ethiopian Metalsmiths
Material: Ethnic Coin Silver
Original/Reproduction: Original
Color: Coin Silver With Gold Plating Residue