Necklace
1860-1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Amulets were worn throughout the Islamic region by men, women and children to help protect them from all the dangers of everyday life. Written inscriptions or pieces of material with magical or religious associations were often enclosed in containers, and the shape of these containers, a triangle, rectangle or cylinder, was so associated with its amuletic purpose that it was often assumed to have the same value as its original contents, regardless of whether or not it contained anything, or could even open.
Cylindrical amulet cases, called khiyar, meaning cucumber, from their shape, are common in the Syrian region. The name of this example was recorded as ‘kladi’ when it was acquired, which is a generic Arabic name for a necklace. It was described as being ‘worn under the left arm’.
It was bought for four shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery.
Cylindrical amulet cases, called khiyar, meaning cucumber, from their shape, are common in the Syrian region. The name of this example was recorded as ‘kladi’ when it was acquired, which is a generic Arabic name for a necklace. It was described as being ‘worn under the left arm’.
It was bought for four shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-plated chain with repoussé silver-plated case |
| Brief description | Silver-plated cylindrical amulet case (khiyar) with chain pendants on a silver-plated loop-in-loop chain, Syria, 1860-1870. |
| Physical description | Cylindrical amulet case hanging from a loose loop-in-loop chain. The amulet case has plain rounded ends, which do not open, and is decorated with a repoussé pattern of overlapping scales on one side, and stylised fronds on the other. There are six loops along the lower edge of the amulet case from each of which hangs a short length of loop-in-loop chain with a flat circular sheet metal pendant at the end. Each pendant is decorated with an applied loop and ring of twisted wire. There are two loops on the top of the amulet to attach it to its chain. The chain has 17 loose rings hanging from it for pendants, all of which are missing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | Amulets were worn throughout the Islamic region by men, women and children to help protect them from all the dangers of everyday life. Written inscriptions or pieces of material with magical or religious associations were often enclosed in containers, and the shape of these containers, a triangle, rectangle or cylinder, was so associated with its amuletic purpose that it was often assumed to have the same value as its original contents, regardless of whether or not it contained anything, or could even open. Cylindrical amulet cases, called khiyar, meaning cucumber, from their shape, are common in the Syrian region. The name of this example was recorded as ‘kladi’ when it was acquired, which is a generic Arabic name for a necklace. It was described as being ‘worn under the left arm’. It was bought for four shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1528-1873 |
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| Record created | April 8, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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