Obj. ID: 36622
Sacred and Ritual Objects Amulet, Casablanca, circa 1910
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
From earliest times, man has tried to protect himself from misfortune by the use of objects which he considered holy or otherwise (e.g., magically) potent. Amulets and talismans are items generally worn around the neck or wrist, carried in a pocket or purse or hung on a wall. They are meant to protect or aid those who carried or wore them. The Hebrew word for amulet, kame‘a, has the root meaning "to bind". Jewish amulets are usually comprised of texts (either letters or graphic symbols) that are inscribed on some sort of material; some may also contain plant matter or precious stones. The texts of amulets usually include holy names that are believed to have the ability to affect reality, along with incantations summoning angels or other magical powers. For the most part, an amulet has a specific purpose: to ease childbirth, facilitate recovery from illness, improve one’s livelihood, and so on, but in the modern world many are also made for general protection.
This is a medium-size hamsa with a cast symbol of a salamander, typical of the elaborate amulets produced in the beginning part of the twentieth century in urban centers. These amulets were produced by Jewish silversmiths for sale to both the Jewish and the Moslem communities. Although most such amulets are hallmarked, this one is not. However the decorative motifs are typical of the city of Casablanca. The salamander was a symbol for renewal and therefore this silver hamsa was most probably intended for use as a birth amulet. In the Moroccan vernacular this animal is called a "Zarmumiah".
The hamsa (five, as in five fingers) is an amulet shaped like a hand. The hamsa is arguably the most popular form of amulet against the Evil Eye and is used in a large number of countries. Probably originating in Moslem Spain of the 12th or 13th century, it crossed the sea to Morocco and spread across North Africa to the Middle and Far East.
sub-set tree:
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments | Floral motif
O | Ornamentation: | Ornament
H | Hamsa
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