Horn of Africa, Ethiopia, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. Wow! A striking, beautiful trio of religious images, each carved in relief on a grey steatite panel. The back of each panel is also carved with a separate figure. One features crucified Christ, another Mary, and another St. Michael the Archangel; their reverses, in order, are an old bearded man, perhaps Saint Nicholas, a dove in front of a cross representing the Holy Spirit, and a man holding a cross and a snake, a reference to the devil. In the city of Axum, where Ethiopian Christians believe the Ark of the Covenant is kept, artisans carve steatite icons and other religious imagery. Size of one (all are the same size): 1.45" W x 2.4" H (3.7 cm x 6.1 cm)
Ethiopian Christianity is one of the most distinctive traditions of the religion, earlier than much of the rest of Africa thanks to missions from the 1st century until the 4th century, when St. Frumentius of Tyre converted King Ezana. As a result, Ethiopia developed a distinctly African form of Christianity.
Provenance: private Glendale, Arizona, USA collection, collected from 1970 to 2000
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#152347
Condition
All three have light wear commensurate with age, including some small scratches on the surface, but the motifs are well preserved and very clear. Otherwise in lovely condition.