Ethiopian Coptic Cross Amulet

A diamond-shaped plate studded with bumps, hinged to a skinny cross dangling below.

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. A square plate set on its point carries four domed studs and a central boss ringed with twisted wire. A small hinge links it to a thin cross whose bar ends in blunt tubes. Surface is darkened and softly tarnished. It is 3 inches long and 7 high.

Two pieces, one hinge, and a remarkable amount of confidence.