Amulet thumbnail 1
Amulet thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Amulet

1700-1799 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Stones with distinctive colours or patterns have been used as amulets since the dawn of time. Their colour or pattern often determined their use. Patterned stones, such as fossilised corals or strongly-veined stones, like this, were considered, in the south German region, a powerful protection against witches and the evil eye.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Decorative pink-veined stone set in a silver mount
Brief description
Heart-shaped pink stone amulet (Schreckstein) in a silver mount, Vienna (Austria), 1700-1799.
Physical description
Heart-shaped amulet made from a piece of pink veined stone, possibly serpentine, set in a silver mount. The mount has a closed back, and serrated teeth holding the stone at the front. There is a loop for suspension at the top of the mount, with a loose silver ring threaded through it. There is a small hole drilled through the heart, just below the suspension ring.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.4cm
  • Width: 2.4cm
  • Depth: 0.7cm
Credit line
Hildburgh gift
Subject depicted
Summary
Stones with distinctive colours or patterns have been used as amulets since the dawn of time. Their colour or pattern often determined their use. Patterned stones, such as fossilised corals or strongly-veined stones, like this, were considered, in the south German region, a powerful protection against witches and the evil eye.
Collection
Accession number
M.27-1917

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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest