Obj. ID: 11558 Amulet, Azerbaijan (?). circa 1880
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 a very unusual amulet created with the niello technique, including the inscription. The technique and the decorative forms indicate the origin in the Caucuses. In the inscription the name of the woman for whom the amulet was made is clear, but the abbreviations for the amuletic inscription itself are not readily given to interpretation. Amulets from this area and niello amulets in general are quite rare. Inscription: Yaffa bat Rachel, May the Lord Protect and Sustain Her.