OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — ETHIOPIA 97. MADONNA AND CHILD WOOD ICON
This Nativity is a devotional art work from Ethiopia—the oldest continuous Christian state in the world dating back to the 4th century AD. This icon was created by a master craftsman and artist. The dimensions and form represented by the imagery originate from ancient ritual traditions of transcribing words and inspired images from God. These icons are conceived and created from the outside in with a kind of meditative devotional reverence that involves carving repetitive patterns, and beautiful detail in wood, and then painting images on the inside that tell stories of the life of Jesus, along with the unique Saints and Angels of the Ethiopian Orthodox religion. The stories conveyed by the iconic images originate back to the 4th Century among the ancient Christian peoples of the Ethiopian Highlands. The methods of creating these iconic messages continue to be handed down to this day as a way of conveying the mysteries of faith and offer their devotional message of Christ’s way of life to those that accept their message.
This icon has a single front panel door hinged in the traditional manner with string and icons painted on the inside of the door and the center panel. The icon measures approximately 3.25 inches wide (6.25 open) by 4.5 inches high. These iconic painted scenes are derived from traditional Ethiopian Orthodox biblical teachings with St. Mary and Jesus on the inside door panel and the Nativity scene on the center panel. The art is painted in rich and vibrant colors, while the outside wood panels are nicely hand-carved front and sides from native softwood and finished in a traditional dark brown.
The sale helps Christian artisans of Ethiopia. Instead of charity, the project is directed at supporting “self-help” for the artisans themselves.
This icon has a single front panel door hinged in the traditional manner with string and icons painted on the inside of the door and the center panel. The icon measures approximately 3.25 inches wide (6.25 open) by 4.5 inches high. These iconic painted scenes are derived from traditional Ethiopian Orthodox biblical teachings with St. Mary and Jesus on the inside door panel and the Nativity scene on the center panel. The art is painted in rich and vibrant colors, while the outside wood panels are nicely hand-carved front and sides from native softwood and finished in a traditional dark brown.
The sale helps Christian artisans of Ethiopia. Instead of charity, the project is directed at supporting “self-help” for the artisans themselves.