cross
- Museum number
- 2015,8039.1
- Title
- Object: The Lampedusa cross
- Description
-
Wooden cross of Latin type made from pieces of a boat that was wrecked off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy on 11 October, 2013. The vertical and horiziontal pieces are joined with a cross halved joint. The cross piece retains scuffed blue paint on the front, upper and lower surfaces. The front of the vertical section has layers of damaged paint. The base coat is dark green which was covered with a beige colour then painted orange. The sides and back are planed down to the timber surface. There is a small hole for suspension on the back of the vertical near the top. A fragment of an iron nail survives at the top in the right side of the cross piece. The back of the cross piece is signed F. Tuccio, Lampedusa
- Production date
- 2015 AD
- Dimensions
-
Height: 383 millimetres
-
Width: 280 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- This cross is made from pieces of a boat that was wrecked on 11 October, 2013 off the coast of Lampedusa. 311 Eritrean and Somali refugees were drowned en route from Libya to Europe. Inhabitants of Lampedusa helped to save the lives of 155 others. After meeting some of the survivors who are Eritrean Christians in the church on Lampedusa, Mr Tuccio, the island's carpenter, was moved by their plight but felt frustrated that he could not make a difference to their situation. The best he could do was to use his skills as a carpenter to fashion each of them a cross from the wreckage of the boat as a reflection on their salvation from the sea and hope for the future. A similar cross was made for Pope Francis who carried it at a memorial service for those who had perished. Mr Tuccio kindly made this piece for the British Museum to mark an extraordinary moment in European history and the fate of Eritrean Christians. It also stands witness to the kindness of the people of the small island of Lampedusa who have done what they can for the refugees and migrants who arrive on their shores.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2022-2023 2 Dec-26 Feb, Dorchester, Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2022 22 Sep–27 Nov, Rochester Cathedral, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2022 18 Jun–18 Sep, M Shed, Bristol, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2022 11 Mar-12 Jun, Ipswich Museum, Crossings Spotlight Loan 2021-2022 10 Dec-6 Mar, Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2021 10 Sep–5 Dec, Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2021 29 May-5 Sep, Manchester, People's History Museum, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2021 22-23 May, Coventry Cathedral, Crossings Spotlight Loan
2017-2018 2 Nov-8 Apr, BM Gallery 35, Living with gods
- Acquisition date
- 2015
- Acquisition notes
- The cross was made and given Mr Francesco Tuccio
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 2015,8039.1