Obj. ID: 51245 Amulet, Morocco, 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.
This is an example of an inexpensive amulet hand written on paper under glass held by tin frame. This cheap type of amulet was popular in morocco. The invocation of the rabbi meir ba'al haness was popular in north africa, the middle east and in europe. There are also such printed printed amulets, see gross 027.020.001 and 027.020.002. There use was for a general protection and not for a specific purpose, calling on the Rabbi Meir Ba'al ha-Nes. This type of small amulet was meant to be carried in the pocket.