gold, sculpture
sculpture
gold
jewelry design
sculpture
islamic-art
Dimensions 2 13/16 x 1 9/16 x 3/16 in. (7.14 x 3.97 x 0.48 cm) (including pendants)
This Hamsa amulet at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is a little treasure! You know, it's anonymous, so we can only imagine who made it, and where… but its tiny scale makes me imagine it was made with lots of care and attention. Look at the openwork design within the hand-shaped frame. It's like a delicate drawing in metal, isn't it? And the gold bird in the center, flying upwards, adds a spark of hope and joy. I wonder, what was on the artist's mind when they were making this piece? Were they thinking about protection, good fortune, or simply the beauty of the materials? Notice the way the pearls dangle from the bottom. They catch the light, adding a sense of movement and life to the amulet. The tradition of the Hamsa goes way back, and connects this artist to so many others. It's a constant conversation across time, inspiring one another's creativity!
Comments
The Hamsa (five) hand is a common motif in Jewish iconography but is not necessarily Jewish in origin. In fact, the open hand, often with an embedded eye, as a protective talisman against the "Evil Eye" dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. This example includes a bird with a gemstone eye. In Arab cultures the symbol is known as the "Hand of Fatima," a reference to the Prophet Muhammad's daughter. The Hamsa symbol has spread in popularity as a good luck symbol for many cultures.
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