Amuletic hand to avert the 'evil eye'

Made:
1880-1925 in Iran
Brass hand, flat sheet Brass hand, flat sheet

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Brass hand, flat sheet
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Brass hand, flat sheet
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass hand, flat sheet, left hand inscribed on upper side with intent to avert evil eye, Persian, 1880-1925, one of two hands the other owning R16909[A]

The fingers of this brass hand are inscribed in Arabic as an amulet to avert the ‘evil eye’. It was made in Persia (modern day Iran).

The evil eye has been a widespread belief that some people can cause harm to others simply by looking at them in a certain way. This ‘look’ may be given deliberately, in an attempt to cause harm, or accidentally, perhaps because of feelings of envy. The harm may take the form of bad luck, illness or death.

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A665269
Materials:
brass
Measurements:
overall: 2 mm x 102 mm x 50 mm, .03 kg
type:
amulet
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)