Obj. ID: 36266 Amulet, Iraq, circa 1900
sub-set tree:
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 amulet shape of an almost square form with clipped corners is among the most common for Kurdistani talismans. They were made for numerous contexts, including the protection of birthing mothers and their children, as is documented in a famous picture of a child from Sandor, in Iraqi Kurdistan, wearing such an amulet on a chain over her shoulder. This shape also is found in smaller sizes, and all the sorts are often found, not only with inscriptions, but with designs of magic squares of amuletic abbreviations, the Magen David and the hamsa.
From the relatively large number of surviving examples, some eight of which exist in the Gross Family Collection, it would seem that the area of Iraqi Kurdistan produced the most amuletic necklaces that we know, featuring various amuletic devices to protect the wearer.This is an outstanding example of the type of amulet necklace.The two large amulet tubes are empty, but probably carried paper or parchment amulets within originally. There are small plaques hung from the rectangular amulet attached to the chain that carry amuletic names. This talisman was made specifically for a woman, Gazali bat Basi. Gazali is the Arabic pronounciation for Yael. This type of amulet was called "Shaddai" or "Yahadonai". They often accompanied individuals from childhood.
The two amulet cases are inscribed with both Hebrew and Persian inscriptions on the same panels of the hexagonal tubes. While some of the Kabbalistic names are the same as on the square center panel, some are different.
Inscription: Gazali bat Basi; Adonai Shadai be-Shem Abartiel.......