Cross-form Icon with Our Mother Mary and her Beloved Child and Saint George and the Dragon and the Crucifixion and the Resurrection

Artist

painter : Mabratu Haragot (Ethiopian, born 20th century)
carver : Zer'u Yohala (Ethiopian, born 1950)

Date

1996

Medium

Paint on wawa wood

Dimensions

Work : 12 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 1 in. (31.75 x 13.97 x 2.54 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Neal and Elizabeth Sobania

Object Number

2018.25.25

Label

In Ethiopia, hand crosses are used only by ordained priests and monks, but some crosses are also made to be sold to tourists. This hand crosses has been cut in half vertically to create flat surfaces for icon paintings and contaisn additional images painted in window panels on the front and back sides of the two halves. Examples of Ethiopian hand crosses that contain painted icons can be found as far back as the 17th century, but it has always been a rare form because of the great skill that is required
to carve the crosses and prepare the painting surfaces. [Nina Kay '19]