Obj. ID: 36949 Amulet, Iran, 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.
Such amulets with mirrors on one side were used in Persia for protection of brides. There are two other amulets of this type in the Gross Family Collection. This example is highly decorative, with hanging chains with beads on both the sides and the bottom. In the front is a cut out section in the shape of an Islamic style dome. In it is a paper with the 42-letter name of God behind glass. In the back a piece of mirror was once set in the empty silver frame, but is now missing. The pendant is on a chain with an interesting clasp, showing the most common use of amulets as elements in jewelry.
Inscription: (42 letter name)