Amulet
1890-1910 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These three pendants are late examples of the kind of amulets that used to be worn 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.
These were intended to protect against the evil eye.
These were intended to protect against the evil eye.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stamped silver |
| Brief description | Three silver amulets, shaped like a star, a fist and a crescent moon, Madeira (Portugal), 1890-1910. |
| Physical description | Three charms, stamped from sheet silver, hanging from three interlocked silver rings. The charms are: an openwork five-pointed star in a plain ring; a crescent moon with a human face; and a hollow human fist, with the thumb protruding between the first and second fingers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Summary | These three pendants are late examples of the kind of amulets that used to be worn 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. These were intended to protect against the evil eye. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.39-1917 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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