Keywords: Ethiopian - Hand Cross - Walters 61342.jpg Hand-held crosses called hand or benediction crosses are carried by Ethiopian priests and offered to the faithful to be kissed during church services Made out of metal or wood the crosses are also used by priests to bless holy water and to perform exorcisms Beginning in the 16th century hand crosses also appear as signs of victory in icons and manuscripts where they are held by saints archangels and even the resurrected Christ This object has a conventional design but the cross in the center appears in silhouette As a result during benedictions this opening could be used to project a cruciform shadow onto the object or person receiving the blessing The rectangular base may be interpreted as a reference to the tabot or carved altar box venerated by Ethiopian Christians century 17 18 Early Modern wood cm 37 16 2 2 accession number 61 342 27214 Anonymous dealer Addis Ababa Ethiopia Richard Hubbard Howland 1963 by purchase Walters Art Museum Gift of Richard Hubbard Howland 1998 Angels of Light Ethiopian Art from the Walters Art Museum Birmingham Museum of Art Birmingham; Smith College Museum of Art Northampton; Museum of Biblical Art New York 2006-2007 place of origin Ethiopia Walters Art Museum license Art of Ethiopia in the Walters Art Museum Crosses from Ethiopia Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review Exorcism |