Historic Victorian 18k Gold Miniature Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Processional Cross Pendant.

In 1868 army officer lord Napier led an expedition into Ethiopia in order to rescue hostages from emperor Tewodros II.

After crossing 400 miles of treacherous terrain he defeated 9000 troops, freed the hostages and plundered the palace.

Crosses were presented to the regiments involved in the expedition. This pendant is a miniaturized copy of such a cross.

Its an interesting piece as the whereabouts of these crosses is unknown. This piece holds clues as to what this particular cross may have looked like.

The cross is inscribed on the reverse “A miniature of the cross presented by lord Napier to the 18th regiment Bombay N.I Abyssinnia 1896”