Obj. ID: 51261
  Sacred and Ritual  Amulet, Italy, circa 1800

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

In almost all countries of Jewish settlement before the 20th century, birth amulets were in widespread use.  The dangers of birth and the relative inability of medicine at that time to relieve the fears brought forth the use of these amuletic devices. Italy was no exception.  This particularly esthetic example, done in micrography, was created in the Sephardic community for  Enrichetta bat Yosef. Another amulet by the same scribe is gross #027.012.041.

The parchment is inscribed with the names of the angels whose protection is invoked. The sheet is filled with inscriptions in micrographic form in pleasing forms in pleasing arrangements, some of which are specific invocations against the evil powers of Lilith. Birth was a frightening and dangerous prospect in the 19th century and such amulets surely were comforting for the mother and family before the impending birth. This amulet is rendered in a particularly aesthetic design. It would seem that this amulet was designed to be hung in the room of mother and child and not folded and carried, as prescribed in the story of the conversation between Eliyahu and Lilith, written on this amulet.

Made For:                        Inciritah bat Yosef