Amulet
1800-1899 (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 gain their power to protect from harm, or to attract good fortune, from their colour, pattern or material. Sharp objects, such as teeth or horns, were believed to have the ability to protect against the evil eye. This stag’s horn was recorded as being used for children. It had a double function: it protected the child against the evil eye and also helped while teething.
Amulets gain their power to protect from harm, or to attract good fortune, from their colour, pattern or material. Sharp objects, such as teeth or horns, were believed to have the ability to protect against the evil eye. This stag’s horn was recorded as being used for children. It had a double function: it protected the child against the evil eye and also helped while teething.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Piece of stag's horn mounted in silver |
| Brief description | Stag's horn amulet mounted in silver, Seville (Spain), 1800-1899. |
| Physical description | Piece of stag's horn set in a decorative silver mount as an amulet. The mount has decorative teeth holding the horn, and an open crown above it supporting the suspension loop. There is a loose silver ring threaded through the loop. The piece of horn is decorated with a carved geometric pattern. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Hildburgh gift |
| 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 gain their power to protect from harm, or to attract good fortune, from their colour, pattern or material. Sharp objects, such as teeth or horns, were believed to have the ability to protect against the evil eye. This stag’s horn was recorded as being used for children. It had a double function: it protected the child against the evil eye and also helped while teething. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Catalogo de Amuletos del Museo de Pueblo Espanol', Ministerio de Cultura, Madrid, 1987, no. 5,370, p. 76; no. 7,810 p. 82; no. 13,217 p. 133 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.18-1917 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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