Obj. ID: 41933  Amulet

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

This is a very finely rendered scroll amulet, one of the finest of the scroll type in the Gross Family Collection.  Both the texts and the illustrations are written and drawn with a professional hand. In the middle of the hand depicted on the amulet is a rectable who borders contain the 22 letter naem of God.  In the center of that rectangle is inscribed the name of the angel Anarnel for protection agains fever. It would seem, then, that the amulets was written for general protection from evil spirits and more specifically against illness. The amulet was probably ordered to protect the newly born child, Zevulun ben Tziporah, whose name is written on the amulet.

The hand is of the left palm, symbolizing the Kabbalistic idea of Gevurah. Angels of fire are written in the fingers.The origin in Buchara is established through identical decorations on decorated Ketubot from that area. There are another three amulets of this type in the Gross Family Collection, all containing the element of the pastel colored hand as well as a magic square and a Magen David.

Made For:                        Zevulun ben Tziporah