Interesting-interesting!

I had never heard about Stanhope or a Stanhope cross - possibly because of my lack of Christian education. I did not even peep into the hole (without metal), when I saw the (SAME THAN YOURS!!) rosary with the crosss yesterday.

The other one I sent ays photo yesterday will be mine soon. I won the auction, I spoke about and paid most likely foolish 46 Euro for the piece, thinking it must have been Mauritanian (as we know, Mauritanians like all kinds of crosses too).

I bought it as a Mauritanian piece, I have to admit. The piece will come from Lituania! The workmanship to Boutilimit-work (most likely)is so close (the "eyes" and the cuts at the sides, leave alone the cross-shape and the material) that I had no other indications to this towards the West-Saharan desert. WRONG, as I now know and though I have overpaid the piece, I am happy to own it, but will make sure the micro-photography is intact, before payment!

This is my hypothesis!
It is a fact that Christian missionairies roamed Mauritania. It could be assumed that one such cross (possibly many) were given to local Muslims, who were on the edge to be converted (though hard to believe that could happen at all). Or simply as a gift to locals. The workmanship of the STANHOPE CROSS might have given them the idea to do their own designs - designs that look quite simelar, if we do not take the actual Stanhope shape into account.

A hypothesis, of course, but not one without merit, I think. As long as we do not have a better one...?