Ethiopian Coptic Cross Amulet

Short, stubby, and scratched, with a flash of red lurking near the loop.

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. Ethiopian crosses are known for their lacework of interlaced lines, with arms that terminate in ornamental shapes and a frame that is often pierced. Compact form with squat arms and a slightly taller upright, its face covered in fine scratches. The grey surface is dull and worn smooth. A small loop at the top holds a tiny trace of red. It is 1 inches long and 1.5 high.

Small, scruffy, and clearly well-traveled.