Ethiopian Coptic Cross Amulet

Openwork honeycomb grid fills the body, with a small seated-looking motif above.

This coptic cross amulet is Ethiopian Orthodox, from Ethiopia, East Africa, and dates to the 19th or early 20th century. It is coin silver & fine silver. Worn at the neck, a cross is generally understood in Ethiopian Christian tradition as a sign of faith and a mark of belonging to the church. Tall body filled with a regular grid of small cut-outs, flanked by diamond-shaped lobes at the sides and bottom, each marked with an X. A solid cap above shows rough engraved lines. The tone is warm and worn. It is 1.5 inches long and 2.5 high.

Lace made out of metal, with a straight face.