Amulet
1750-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Amulets were worn by men, women and children throughout southern Europe in the 19th century. Before the development of modern medicine, fevers, cramps and toothache could be painful and dangerous. Childbirth could kill mother or child. Many people believed that the supernatural powers embodied in an amulet could promote fertility and good health and offer protection against malign forces or the ‘evil eye’. Although the Catholic Church was opposed to the pagan nature of many amulets, it was powerless to prevent their use.
Amulets in the form of a mermaid, or sirena in Spanish, had been used in Spain since the 17th century. This particular form, with the mermaid blowing a trumpet, was mainly used by women and children as a protection against the evil eye. The noise of the bells hanging along the lower edge would similarly help to frighten off any evil spirits.
It was bought for the museum by Senor Riano for three shillings and four pence in Cordoba in 1871.
Amulets in the form of a mermaid, or sirena in Spanish, had been used in Spain since the 17th century. This particular form, with the mermaid blowing a trumpet, was mainly used by women and children as a protection against the evil eye. The noise of the bells hanging along the lower edge would similarly help to frighten off any evil spirits.
It was bought for the museum by Senor Riano for three shillings and four pence in Cordoba in 1871.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast silver with silver wire and silver bells |
| Brief description | Silver amulet for a child (sonajero), shaped like a winged siren with bells, Cordoba (Spain), 1750-1850. |
| Physical description | Silver pendant, consisting of a flat cast siren, with wings and a long coiled tail, blowing a trumpet, which hangs by two short lengths of loop-in-loop chain from a silver ring. Three bells hang from the lower edge of the siren. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Amulets were worn by men, women and children throughout southern Europe in the 19th century. Before the development of modern medicine, fevers, cramps and toothache could be painful and dangerous. Childbirth could kill mother or child. Many people believed that the supernatural powers embodied in an amulet could promote fertility and good health and offer protection against malign forces or the ‘evil eye’. Although the Catholic Church was opposed to the pagan nature of many amulets, it was powerless to prevent their use. Amulets in the form of a mermaid, or sirena in Spanish, had been used in Spain since the 17th century. This particular form, with the mermaid blowing a trumpet, was mainly used by women and children as a protection against the evil eye. The noise of the bells hanging along the lower edge would similarly help to frighten off any evil spirits. It was bought for the museum by Senor Riano for three shillings and four pence in Cordoba in 1871. |
| Bibliographic reference | For a similar example see:
'Catalogo de Amuletos del Museo de Pueblo Espanol', Ministerio de Cultura, Madrid, 1987, no. 1,686, p. 50 & 10,109, p.100
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1125-1871 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
