Necklace Featuring Antique Ethiopian Cross

Kateri Weiss

Necklace Featuring Antique Ethiopian Cross, Jewelry by Kateri Weiss
  • Ethiopian cross
  • Jewelry
  • Silver
  • multi-colored stones
Savvy Price $450.00
Gallery Price $575.00
Title
Necklace Featuring Antique Ethiopian Cross
Artist
Kateri Weiss
Medium
Silver, Chinese Venetian glass beads, phenolic resin
Troy ounces
3.05 troy ounces
Size
Overall length of necklace is 25". Cross measures 1 5/8" height X 1 3/16" width.
Date of creation
Cross is circa 1890. Glass and resin beads are circa 1900.
Condition
Excellent
Description
Glass trade beads came from two differtent parts of the world. Yellow glass mandrell lampwork beads have been strung with lamp work and cane banded beads from Venice. European phenolic resin beads from the early 1900's adds the perfect, but much more durable "amber" touch to the African composition of hues, materials and textures.
Provenance
ST
Gram weight
94.9 grams
About The Necklace Featuring Antique Ethiopian Cross

All silver components, beginning with the centerpiece cross, are hand made.  The antique cruciform was cut from a silver Maria Theresa trade dollar. 

After being filed to remove unwanted surface details, a hardened iron point was used to incise design details which have all but completely worn away.  The loupe bail is also made of the same material and soldered to the pendant.  Sterling silver sheet and wire, mill rolled and drawn from ingot, were used to fabricate open work beads and caps made in Northeast Africa. 

Small, 1 mm beads of coin metal, woven into the back end lengths of this neckpiece are Ethiopian.  Shaved edges of coins are drawn into wire shaped by winding around a fine steel rod.  Much the way links are made, these coils are cut, separated and the ends of each tiny "bead" are hammer fused together.

About Kateri Weiss

Originally from Flint, Michigan, ne Kateri Marie Dufault, Mrs. Weiss earned scholarships to attend Interlochen Center for the Arts and the University of Ann Arbor. She has been cutting turquoise garnered from a large number of different mines since 1972, and is entirely aware of its unique qualities. A professional sculptor, painter and designer, she has a background in engineering and architectural design to include drafting on a contract basis for fine jewelers as well as architectural offices. This highly capable woman is also a recognized expert in verifying the authenticity of Zuni fetish carvings including artists such as Leekya Deyuse and his Zuni peers.

Other Works By Kateri Weiss:
  • Eight Strand Carnelian Necklace, Jewelry by Kateri Weiss
  • Trade Bead Necklace with Silver Walata Idye Cruciform, Jewelry by Kateri Weiss, Jewelry by Kateri Weiss
Cultures

USA, Women Artists

Medium

Jewelry

Subject

Keywords

Kateri Weiss, Ethiopian cross, Jewelry, Silver, multi-colored stones