This is a traditional Ethiopian Coptic cross from the 1800’s. It looks like it was made by the lost-wax process and then stamped for decorative elements.

General: 2.75″ width by 3.75″ height. diameter.

Brass and silver plate. Antique The silver plate has worn off on most of the piece.

I’ve been collecting tribal art and ethnographic carvings for years. Recently, my interest focused in on antique and vintage Santos from the Spanish Colonial diaspora, especially the Philippines. I thought Etsy would be a good place to share some of this collection and have been pleased with the connections that I have made so far.

This is my motto:

“Whatever the culture, there can be no more important art than that used as an aid for communicating with the divine. I have always found devotional artifacts fascinating to collect; there is no better way to connect with a past culture than through the objects that were important to it. Collecting Santos figures is particularly gratifying. The subject, the style and the methods of production combine to tell the tale of what the individuals in that culture valued.”

My primary business has to do with vintage baseball history. I’ve come up with a an art form that was inspired by the baseball cards of my youth. I’ve created my own series and have found quite the following for them on eBay. Learn more on my website.

With both the vintage carvings and the baseball cards, I am drawn to the human touch, to the wear and tear of handling and use. Objects and humans rubbing off on each other….