Shell pendant painted with an eye

Amuletic pendant, eye painted on shell in oval metal mount, glazed, with suspension ring, possibly against sore eyes or evil eye(?), from Paris, French, 1850-1920

Hung from a necklace, the shell pendant painted with an eye and mounted in a metal frame on the right was used as an amulet to prevent eye infections or against the ‘evil eye’. 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.

This pendant came from the De Mortillet Collection and is shown here with two other amulets worn to protect against the evil eye (A132526 and A666110).