Cross
before 1868 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This engraved iron Ethiopian handcross formerly belonged to Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy (1836-1910). It was donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum by his goddaughter in 1936. Speedy was an army officer and colonial official. In 1860 he travelled to Ethiopia to assist the emperor Tewodros II (Theodore) with military training. Speedy returned in 1868, this time as civilian interpreter to a British military expedition aimed at releasing British subjects held hostage by Tewodros. The expedition ended with the capture of the emperor's fortress at Maqdala (Magdala), but not before Tewodros had committed suicide. The following death of his wife, Queen Woyzaro Terunesh, left an orphan son, Prince Dejatch Alamayou, to whom the Amharic-speaking Captain became guardian.
It is unclear how Speedy acquired the cross. In the Ethiopian Orthodox church, crosses have always played an important role as symbols of resurrection and life. This cross would have been carried by a priest. It carries images of the Crucifixion and Ecce Homo on one face and the risen Christ and the Virgin and Child on the other.
It is unclear how Speedy acquired the cross. In the Ethiopian Orthodox church, crosses have always played an important role as symbols of resurrection and life. This cross would have been carried by a priest. It carries images of the Crucifixion and Ecce Homo on one face and the risen Christ and the Virgin and Child on the other.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved iron |
| Brief description | Handcross, engraved iron, Ethiopia, made before 1868 |
| Physical description | Hand-cross. Engraved iron. Top formed of a cross patee surrounded by four crosses patonee and engraved on one side with a crucifix and on the other with the risen Christ. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs Henry Perrin |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Hand-cross. Engraved iron. Abyssinian; 19th century. Top formed of a cross patee surrounded by four crosses patonee and engraved on one side with a crucifix and on the other with the risen Christ. Oblong stem engraved on the front with the Virgin and the Magdalen and on the back with an angel. At the bottom, between two crosses patonee is a square plate having on one side a bust of the Ecce Homo and on the other the Virgin and Child./ Gift. Mrs Henry Perrin, 23 Holland Villas Road, Kensington, W.14.' |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This engraved iron Ethiopian handcross formerly belonged to Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy (1836-1910). It was donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum by his goddaughter in 1936. Speedy was an army officer and colonial official. In 1860 he travelled to Ethiopia to assist the emperor Tewodros II (Theodore) with military training. Speedy returned in 1868, this time as civilian interpreter to a British military expedition aimed at releasing British subjects held hostage by Tewodros. The expedition ended with the capture of the emperor's fortress at Maqdala (Magdala), but not before Tewodros had committed suicide. The following death of his wife, Queen Woyzaro Terunesh, left an orphan son, Prince Dejatch Alamayou, to whom the Amharic-speaking Captain became guardian. It is unclear how Speedy acquired the cross. In the Ethiopian Orthodox church, crosses have always played an important role as symbols of resurrection and life. This cross would have been carried by a priest. It carries images of the Crucifixion and Ecce Homo on one face and the risen Christ and the Virgin and Child on the other. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.441-1936 |
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| Record created | February 5, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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