Browse Items (24 total)

In this scene, many people appear to play a game, while a dignitary sits on a chair, and watches them. In a small rectangle on the left, there are a few lines written in the Ge’ez (South Semitic language) alphabet.

Six men cross the fields mounted on horses. They go towards the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and two other male figures.

These two baskets showcase traditional Ethiopian styles, woven with two mixed techniques: coiling for the structure, and stake and strand for decoration. One basket is shaped as a plate, and the other has a lid. Usually, baskets in these shapes are…

These three baskets are part of a set of four similar baskets. They were woven using a coiling technique, using traditionally Ethiopian colors and designs. One of them is shaped as a plate with a footed base, and two are shaped as bowls. In addition…

The art books from the Hess Collection were crucial in the identification of recent donations from the Hess family. The book displayed here features photographs and descriptions of the Abuna Yemata Guh monolithic church.

This small chalice, likely carved in bone, is used during the communion services

Book: Christian Art from Ethiopia and Nubia
This German book illustrates different kinds of Christian art, from paintings to traditional Christian objects, such as chalices and crosses. Picture 51, on the left, exemplifies a wooden hand cross, while…

This very small object, made of steel, consists of a rectangular body, with a suspension loop end on one side, and a spoon-like end opposite to it. Both the front and the back are covered with steel decorations. The little spoon was used to remove…

This photograph belongs to one of the scrapbooks of the Hess Collection. It contains collection of 277 black and white photographs, housed in a canvas photo album (23 x 32 cm.). Each page contains between five and nine photographs. The album cover…

This fly-whisk is used to swat or disturb flies. It is made of white horse hair and has a looped handle. Covered in an unknown material, possibly plant fiber, the handle is braided in black and white stripes.