Iron hand cross from Amhara, 2nd half of the 19th century

Length: 16 cm.
Material: iron.
Origin: Amhara.
Age: Second half of the 19th century.

Priests carry hand crosses, wrapped in cloth, to bless the faithful. Therefore, hand crosses must be easy to wear. Every Ethiopian priest has a hand cross (Meskel in Amharic) with which he blesses the faithful. The cross is handmade using the lost wax method and is a unique piece.