Amulet
early 20th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Church Missionary Society was founded in London in 1799. Most of its founders were members of the Clapham Sect, a group of activist evangelical Christians. They included Henry Thornton MP and William Wilberforce MP. The founders of the Society were committed to three huge enterprises: abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, social reform at home and world evangelisation.
The Society’s overseas mission work began in Sierra Leone in 1804 but spread rapidly to India, Canada, New Zealand and the area around the Mediterranean. Its main areas of work in Africa have been in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda and Sudan. This leather amulet was purchased from the Church Missionary Society for the V&A’s Circulation department collection in 1966. A Society label attached to the amulet describes it as a ‘Mohammedan Charm’. The amulet was produced by an Islamic community in West Africa, possibly the Hausa of northern Nigeria. The stitched brown leather will contain paper handwritten with ayat (verses) from the Qu’ran. The prayers are believed to offer protection to the wearer of the amulet.
The Society’s overseas mission work began in Sierra Leone in 1804 but spread rapidly to India, Canada, New Zealand and the area around the Mediterranean. Its main areas of work in Africa have been in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda and Sudan. This leather amulet was purchased from the Church Missionary Society for the V&A’s Circulation department collection in 1966. A Society label attached to the amulet describes it as a ‘Mohammedan Charm’. The amulet was produced by an Islamic community in West Africa, possibly the Hausa of northern Nigeria. The stitched brown leather will contain paper handwritten with ayat (verses) from the Qu’ran. The prayers are believed to offer protection to the wearer of the amulet.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Leather |
| Brief description | Amulet, stitched brown leather, West Africa (possible Nigeria), before 1966 |
| Physical description | Stitched brown leather amulet to be worn around the neck, with incised lines on front. Label attached: (printed) 'Church Missionary Society', (handwritten) 'Mohammedan charm, West Africa, Case 13, No 132'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Circ.128 & 129-1966, Leather Amulet, West Africa, Mohammedan leather amulet, West African / Leather Amulet, West African, Mohammedan leather amulet, West African, The central charm has an inlaid woven pattern of grass. / Price £6.6.0 [for the entire collection] / Received from Church Missionary Societies [sic] / Received 17/1/66 / Authority RP/1966/80'. Displayed in "V and A Africa: Exploring Hidden Histories" 15th November 2012- 3rd February 2013 |
| Summary | The Church Missionary Society was founded in London in 1799. Most of its founders were members of the Clapham Sect, a group of activist evangelical Christians. They included Henry Thornton MP and William Wilberforce MP. The founders of the Society were committed to three huge enterprises: abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, social reform at home and world evangelisation. The Society’s overseas mission work began in Sierra Leone in 1804 but spread rapidly to India, Canada, New Zealand and the area around the Mediterranean. Its main areas of work in Africa have been in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda and Sudan. This leather amulet was purchased from the Church Missionary Society for the V&A’s Circulation department collection in 1966. A Society label attached to the amulet describes it as a ‘Mohammedan Charm’. The amulet was produced by an Islamic community in West Africa, possibly the Hausa of northern Nigeria. The stitched brown leather will contain paper handwritten with ayat (verses) from the Qu’ran. The prayers are believed to offer protection to the wearer of the amulet. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.128-1966 |
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| Record created | April 16, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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