🔎 UNIDENTIFIED 1700's Copper Cross

[sonnyjam]

I was hoping someone could give me some insight on this cross I found. I've found many 1700's items at the same site. Thank you!

 

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[tamrock]

Looks old for sure. A rosary I guess with a profile of Christ on the right and maybe a pope on the left.

 

[pepperj]

Certainly has a lot going for it.
Possibly a Dove on the top.
Is there any symbol or letters in the center?
Congratulations on the recovery 👏

 

[tamrock]

Certainly has a lot going for it.
Possibly a Dove on the top.
Is there any symbol or letters in the center?
Congratulations on the recovery 👏

Agree on the dove.

 

[Almy]

It's big for a rosary cross. Maybe hand held and used for a worship service?

 

[ArfieBoy]

Nice find! Congratulations!

 

[invent4hir]

Really nice artifact. I recommend doing a Google image search on the last pic. I found a similar cross but unable to post the pic and link while using a tablet.

 

[pepperj]

Really nice artifact. I recommend doing a Google image search on the last pic. I found a similar cross but unable to post the pic and link while using a tablet.

I tried and only came up with thus example.

 

[mjb Mike]

no info but that is really cool

 

[Blackfoot58]

I believe it may be monastic.
The missing clues (obviously) are tied to identifying the bottom design and the design/writing below the dove.
INRI would be typical for a Christian cross, but I’m not seeing that.
Where was it found? USA?

 

[Mackaydon]

The dove is referred to as a 'descending dove' and has biblical reference.
In Luke 3:21-22 is written (in some versions):

"After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”

The cross has an additional, and smaller, crossbar. As such, it is called a patriarchal cross.
That crossbar usually has the inscription INRI. (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).
Don in SoCal

 

[DCMatt]

Looks old for sure. A rosary I guess with a profile of Christ on the right and maybe a pope on the left.

Neat piece!

My first thought was "fur trade item" as it isn't a high-quality piece. Any evidence of silver wash on it?

You can see the marks where the Corpus Christi was attached at one time. I'd go back and hunt for that...

The images around the cross are sometimes the four evangelists or their associated image - Mark the King, Lion; Luke the lowly Servant, Ox; Matthew the Angel; and John the Eagle. They could also represent the stations of the cross

Sadly, the pics are not high enough resolution to get much detail.

Where was it found? Northern USA?

 

[sonnyjam]

Thank you everyone for all of your replies, it is greatly appreciated. I found this on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It does not appear to have had any other attachments to it, just the top eyelet is broken. Also, does not appear to have any silver or gold it is all copper. I am going to try to get better pictures of it.
Thanks again for all your help.

 

[sonnyjam]

To me, it looks like there’s a cat at the bottom of the cross, there is writing on the smaller bar It’s hard to make out, One letter looks like a T

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks 18th C to me!

 

[Mackaydon]

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the presence of a descending dove.
Best guess: The left and right images show both men. The bottom image is still a mystery.
OP: Any chance to do minor cleaning in that area to better define what the image represents?
Don in SoCal
PS: The Romans had no letter "J"; the letter 'I' was used. In the crossbar. The 'shortcut' to writing Jesus was "I'" as in INRI (Jesus of Nazareth , King of the Jews).