Featuring four painted panels with Christian religious figures, this painted wooden pendant positions the Virgin Mary and Christ at the “heart” of the piece on the central panel. It opens multiple doorways into conversations with saints — including Saint George, the patron saint of Ethiopia, charging forward on horseback, the ascetic Saint Gäbrä Mänfäs Qeddus, and Saints Abba Täklä Haymanot and Abba Ewosṭatewos, founders of monastic communities in Eritrea and Ethiopia, respectively — offering numerous points of iconographic intercession. Designed as a compact and portable shell, this pendant allows for greater functionality for personal and devotional contemplation.

This clasp, previously worn as a piece of jewelry, features an image of Mary, the Mother of God, on one side. Through its touching of the skin, the silver clasp adorned the wearer with Mary’s icon and allowed for a multitude of connections between the holy figure and the wearer. This clasp was a way for its owner to carry the Mother of God on their body at all times and, through touch and sight, always be reminded of her presence.