Obj. ID: 37456
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Amulet, Iran, circa 1920

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.

Iran is the area of the Jewish world in which the use of amulets is most prevalent and from which the greatest quantity of amulets has survived. There are many categories for these talismans, including an extensive group of those executed in brass rather than silver. This is an aesthetically-designed round brass amulet with exceptionally fine workmanship. The metalworking techniques include punching, chasing and engraving. The inscriptions, starting on the outer rim and continuing into the center, include the 12-letter, the 22-letter and the 42-letter names of God. The two loops on the back indicate that this amulet was meant to be either an arm amulet or one that was hung from a necklace. The inscriptions suggest that the purpose of this talisman was a form of general protection for the wearer. There exists the theory that brass amulets are in general older than those from silver.

Inscription: 12-letter name of God. The 22-letter name of God, the 42-letter name of God.