Obj. ID: 41967 Amulet, Marrakech (Marrakesh), circa 1935
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.
The style of the writing is that of the Atlas Mountains in the general area of Marrakesh. The purpose of the amulet is very general protection against the evil eye and mention is made in the text of protection agains almost all sorts of potential evils. The formulae in the text are original and not copied from standard examples. There are another two amulets by the same scribe in The Gross Family Collection as well as one in the collection of Paul Dahan. The depiction of micrography in Morrocan amulets is quite unusual as is the beautifully rendered magic square and Hamsah.
Made For: Shlomo ben Masoudah