A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.
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Eva, the three old crosses are the genuine ones, old, worn through (worn on a woollen threat (which are viscious on the silver and wears it all through. They are the silver ones perhaps not a very high contents but for Ethiopia silver ,and not the nickel ones for tourists. which are actually now very much on sale on ebay, for little mony so, no harm done. The fillegrain one is beautifully done with great skill but I cannot comment on it because I have seen 4 yrs. ago a Ethiopian dealer came to me and had a sack full of beautifully made crosses but and those were a new style and for me suspicious and they turned out not silver and that was a new development for me since I left Ethiopia. Since you have a tester you can let me know. If it is silver you have a beautiful piece . Fillegree work can only be done by skillful jewellers.
Here's a link to a youtube film made in the early 70s that may be interesting in the context of discussing Ethiopian crosses. Much of the film shows the process of making a hand cross using the lost wax method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0N3nJ6AlYg
Very useful info Betty on the lost wax system with lots of historical facts.
Thank you for forwarding this to me. Gr. Ingrid.
@Ingrid, thank you for your Information. Yes they are all silver, and the three small ones, quite expensive to buy.The filigree one at right was bought in Ethiopia by friends of mine and they tested it, it is silver. It was a gift to me, so I do not know the Price. The small ones were expensive. However the other ones (e.g. the big Lalibela cross on the other photo) is not silver.
@Betty thanks for the link, it is very impressive! I just watched it.