Obj. ID: 35849
Sacred and Ritual Objects Amulet, Iran, circa 1925
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 an unusual hamsa-form amulet from Persia, this piece has inscriptions on the front, including the formula of "ben Porat Yosef" and the priestly blessing. These formulae indicate the use as an amulet for general protection. The name of the apparent owner, Aaron M'saliman, appears on the back. As with most amulets from the area of Iran, this one seems to have been created for a specific purpose for a specific person. The writing on the palm is in the typical Iranian hollow Hebrew letters while the inscription on the fingers is in more simple chased letters.
The hamsa is arguably the most popular form of amulet against the Evil Eye and is used in a large number of countries in the Islamic world. Probably originating in Moslem Spain of the 12th or 13th century, it crossed the sea to Morocco with the expulsion of 1492 and spread across North Africa to the Middle and Far East.
Inscription: Aaron M'saliman, Ben Porat Yosef......