Obj. ID: 36475 Amulet, Iran, circa 1920
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.
There are more surviving silver amulets from Iran than from any other area. Many different distinctive groups of talismans exist from Iran and this quantity of amulets probably is evidence of the most widespread use of metal amulets as well, fashioned from silver, gold, brass, copper and lead. This is an example of a group of amulets in the form of a padlock. The idea of the lock is symbolic for an amulet against miscarriage, as if the womb will be locked. They carry different formulas, but the main source of strength is the physical form of the amulet as a padlock. The amulet carries a Hebrew inscription as well.
Inscription: Ba-El Shaddai Argaman.......