Obj. ID: 36550 Amulet, Tunisia, circa 1930
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.
Heavy silver jewelry was popular both in Morocco and Tunisia, including the category of bracelets for both arm and ankle. Inscribed on them were symbols of amuletic content. In this example the amuletic motif is represented by the two images of fish on the two sides. Generally the fish was both a good luck charm and an amulet for fertility. The piece carries silver marks on the inside. The workmanship on such bracelets from Tunisia was usually finer than that from Morocco.