Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1870
Publication Place
Jerusalem (made) -
Subject
Fish
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Length: 31.5cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
M.364-1910
Record ID
M.364-1910
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1870
Notes
Amulets were worn throughout the Islamic region, by men, women and children, to help protect them from all the dangers of everyday life. The fish was regarded as having protective qualities by all three Abrahamic religions, and was often used as an amulet. This amulet would have been worn by an Islamic woman living in one of the rich cities of the eastern Mediterranean. Silver was the preferred material for amulets among rural and tribal women. It was described as Turkish, and as having been acquired in Jerusalem, when it entered the Museumâs collections in 1910. The word samak is a generic Arabic word for fish.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Gold with seed pearls Gold Seed Pearls
Fiziksel açıklama
Gold amulet shaped like a fish hanging from a decorative chain. The fish is made from hollow overlapping segments, so that it is flexible, with a flat engraved tail and two fins above. Its eyes are made from small green pastes. There are ten loops along its lower edge each holding a short pendant of pierced seed pearls ending in a flat ring with a scalloped outer edge. The chain is attached to the two fins on its upper edge and consists of interlocking scalloped rings, like those on the pendants of the fish. It has a plain hook fastening.