Bloodstone amuletic brooch

Made:
1914-1918 in unknown place
Bloodstone amuletic brooch

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Bloodstone amuletic brooch
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Small circular amulet brooch of bloodstone, with metal mount and pin for attachment, said to have been worn by a soldier during the First World War, 1914-1918, from the Lovett collection.

The carrying of ‘lucky charms’ – as protective amulets against ill health and physical danger – is common in many cultures around the world. This small circular amulet brooch has a facing of bloodstone with metal mount and pin for attachment. Bloodstone has strong religious associations. Legend has it that it was for;;;;ed when drops of the crucified Christ’s blood fell and stained stones at the foot of the cross. It’s also traditionally said to have been carried by warriors to help stop the bleeding should they become wounded. This brooch is recorded as being worn by a soldier during the First World War, 1914-1918.

The amulet was bought for the Wellcome collection in 1930 from Edward Lovett’s (1852-1933) collection of British amulets and charms. Lovett was a collector who documented different medical traditions and beliefs.

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A79984
Materials:
mineral and metal
type:
protective amulets
credit:
Lovett, E.