Amulet Case
c.1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The long years of Ottoman rule in the Balkans left their mark on the traditional jewellery of the Christians in the region. There is often very little difference in shape and use between Muslim and Christian jewellery, but the decoration clearly shows the identity of the wearer.
This amulet case is very similar in design to Muslim amulet cases throughout the eastern Mediterranean region, but the embossed image of St George and the dragon identifies it as Christian, probably from Albania or Greece, where St George was the patron saint. Boxes like this were frequently worn by freedom fighters in the Greek War of Independence, and sometimes have symbols on the back, identifying the owner as a member of one of the numerous societies established to push for Greek independence. It was bought for the Museum for £1 6s. at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, when it was described as Albanian.
This amulet case is very similar in design to Muslim amulet cases throughout the eastern Mediterranean region, but the embossed image of St George and the dragon identifies it as Christian, probably from Albania or Greece, where St George was the patron saint. Boxes like this were frequently worn by freedom fighters in the Greek War of Independence, and sometimes have symbols on the back, identifying the owner as a member of one of the numerous societies established to push for Greek independence. It was bought for the Museum for £1 6s. at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, when it was described as Albanian.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Embossed silver |
| Brief description | Silver amulet case with chain, embossed with St. George and the Dragon, Greece or Albania, c.1860. |
| Physical description | Rectangular silver amulet case. The front is embossed with a picture of St George on horseback, with a dragon under his horse's hooves. The back is plain, apart from an engraved border. There are engraved patterns on the three lower narrow sides. The fourth, top, side has a sliding lid. There are 5 loops along the lower edge of the case, from each of which hangs a cast pierced roundel. There is a loop attached at the top of each of the sides which holds a long figure-of-eight chain. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The long years of Ottoman rule in the Balkans left their mark on the traditional jewellery of the Christians in the region. There is often very little difference in shape and use between Muslim and Christian jewellery, but the decoration clearly shows the identity of the wearer. This amulet case is very similar in design to Muslim amulet cases throughout the eastern Mediterranean region, but the embossed image of St George and the dragon identifies it as Christian, probably from Albania or Greece, where St George was the patron saint. Boxes like this were frequently worn by freedom fighters in the Greek War of Independence, and sometimes have symbols on the back, identifying the owner as a member of one of the numerous societies established to push for Greek independence. It was bought for the Museum for £1 6s. at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, when it was described as Albanian. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1421-1873 |
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| Record created | September 22, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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