Ethiopian Coptic Cross Amulet

Thin tube arms radiate from a granulated sun-disc, so it reads more like a compass.

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. Silver crosses of this kind were often made by hand-working or casting metal, sometimes from melted coins, which gave smiths a familiar and portable source of silver. Long hollow-looking rods form the arms, joined behind a round disc edged with scalloped wire and a central dome. The tone is warm and darkened, with a small peg at the top. It is 4.25 inches long and 5 high.

Delicate where others are stocky, and happy to show it.