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Source Description

This cross, which survives in nearly pristine condition, was cast in one piece, with the base and body formed of the same material. The high degree of perforation, creating a radiating lattice of crosses, would have been difficult to achieve in any other medium. Because of its inherent strength, bronze was ideally suited to this kind of treatment. The design is rigorously geometric, dominated by the interaction of circular and cruciform shapes. The curving ribbons enclosing the central cross differentiate this space from the concentric rings around it. The central cross, therefore, remains the focus of the object and is further distinguished by its open-work construction. The many small crosses radiating from the hub of this wheel-like form allude to the symbolic, regenerative properties of the cross. The form of this "wheel" cross, is common to the province of Lasta, site of the churches of Lalibala.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
5913
label
Processional Cross
core
obj
dtoType
sculpture
pageCount
3
Source metadata
id
5913
contentType
sculpture
stage
normalized
title
Processional Cross
description
This cross, which survives in nearly pristine condition, was cast in one piece, with the base and body formed of the same material. The high degree of perforation, creating a radiating lattice of crosses, would have been difficult to achieve in any other medium. Because of its inherent strength, bronze was ideally suited to this kind of treatment. The design is rigorously geometric, dominated by the interaction of circular and cruciform shapes. The curving ribbons enclosing the central cross differentiate this space from the concentric rings around it. The central cross, therefore, remains the focus of the object and is further distinguished by its open-work construction. The many small crosses radiating from the hub of this wheel-like form allude to the symbolic, regenerative properties of the cross. The form of this "wheel" cross, is common to the province of Lasta, site of the churches of Lalibala.
provenance
Knopfelmacher Collection [Knopfelmacher 12], New York; William Wright Gallery, New York; Walters Art Museum, 1996, by purchase.
date
14th-15th century (Solomonic)
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
processional crosses
sculptures
imageCount
3
pageCount
3
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
22.5
height
17.6
dimensionsRaw
H: 8 7/8 x W: 6 15/16 in. (22.54 x 17.62 cm)
Source extras
cul
Christian Highland Ethiopian
dynasty
early Solomonic Dynasty
med
bronze
creator_ids
6264
collection_ids
ETH
exhibition_ids
1958
955
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
8e83a545244f02bf
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
4f9158dcb9fc9941
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
aeb6b77d49612ceb
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no