Obj. ID: 35881
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.
There is a large group of amulets in this particular form from Iran. They are round, concave and engraved with the particular style of lettering in Hebrew seen here. They are very often inscribed with the invocation "Ben Porat Yosef" or the 42 letter name, as in this example, for the protection of the wearer. Amulets with set stones are a relative rarity among Iranian amulets. The red color itself has amuletic value and it may well be that the oval stone represents the eye that repels the Evil Eye aimed at the wearer.
Inscription: Leki Lesi (42 letter name)