posted 04-07-2015 03:00 AM            

My name is Brett. I live near Johannesburg, in South Africa. I have collected guns and books and art, Gurkha khukris etc for a long time and while scouting have found some interesting pieces of silver. The research is really what has me hooked. I like reading up on my new treasures.

Here is something that has fascinated me for a couple of years, but this weekend - being Easter - I spent more time with it.

I loaded it in my album. (The process is not that difficult, Thank you, Forum owners!)

I'm calling it as a 19th Century Russian Jewish hamesh hand surrounded by a Star of David - the hand is surrounded by six symbolic eyes that are meant to ward of the Evil Eye..

I would be obliged if anyone could direct me at resources I could study to find out more on the people who made these.

I'm still learning the secrets to using the forum, but I have not found anything using search.

posted 04-08-2015 12:13 AM            

Of the three I found online, one was described as found in 2001 at a 'car-boot sale', typically a British endeavor; another is in the Rotterdam Museum, noted as found in the soil in 1982 at the restoration of the Schielandshuis, given a seemingly arbitrary dating of 1700-1915; and the last, was found by an Englishman in a family 'button box', presumably dating before 1982, with that owner having contact from others with the same item.

Some similarly designed silver pendants, also described as Bedouin talismans, can be found online - the reference books cited are 'Desert Silver' by Sigrid von Roode (on her 'Bedouin Silver' site, she attributes a silver piece in this same design to the Siwa Oasis), and 'Enchanted Jewelry of Egypt' by Azza Fahmy.

posted 04-08-2015 02:27 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by dragonflywink:
Welcome! Is this piece marked or have you had it tested? From the picture, it appears to be perhaps cast pewter or similar rather than silver, and other virtually identical items found online also appear to the same metal, none of them identified as silver - though some similar pieces are described as silver and appear to be. Personally, doubt it's Russian, or even necessarily Jewish - though associated with the religion for centuries, the Magen-David as such a definitive symbol of Judaism doesn't really date much earlier than the late 19th century, the symbol was used by other cultures too...

Of the three I found online, one was described as found in 2001 at a 'car-boot sale', typically a British endeavor; another is in the Rotterdam Museum, noted as found in the soil in 1982 at the restoration of the Schielandshuis, given a seemingly arbitrary dating of 1700-1915; and the last, was found by an Englishman in a family 'button box', presumably dating before 1982, with that owner having contact from others with the same item.

Some similarly designed silver pendants, also described as Bedouin talismans, can be found online - the reference books cited are 'Desert Silver' by Sigrid von Roode (on her 'Bedouin Silver' site, she attributes a silver piece in this same design to the Siwa Oasis), and 'Enchanted Jewelry of Egypt' by Azza Fahmy.

~Cheryl

---

Thanks, Cheryl! I think I found the same 'car boot' and 'button-box' amulets on the net but the other sources are going to be fun following up.

I have been loathe to put acid on such a nice little piece. Could be pewter, could be I was influenced by the others who thought it was silver, however, under a loupe it appears to have a pretty high gold content. Colour is pretty much the same as other old silver I have.

Appreciate the sources!

posted 04-08-2015 09:51 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Scott Martin:
To avoid putting acid directly on the item try using the touchstone or Specific gravity tests.

---

posted 04-09-2015 04:24 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by dragonflywink:
Some similarly designed silver pendants, also described as Bedouin talismans, can be found online - the reference books cited are 'Desert Silver' by Sigrid von Roode (on her 'Bedouin Silver' site, she attributes a silver piece in this same design to the Siwa Oasis), and 'Enchanted Jewelry of Egypt' by Azza Fahmy.

~Cheryl

---

Thank you for this lead, Cheryl! I found her website and Facebook page and got stuck there for hours, it was so interesting. Her amulet is in almost every respect the same as mine except that the finish appears rougher. Her photo is upside down. When you flip it 180 it is clear the ring at the top of the pendant has broken off and has been refinished (hammered?) somewhat to smooth the break.

Once I saw that I looked at the rest of the amulet very carefully. It looks as if - perhaps for religious reasons - the Book in the hamesh has been cut out to form the classical fingers of the 'Hand of Miriam' that is an icon of the Middle Eastern religions.

That lead me to look again carefully at the Book on my amulet and there might be smith's punch marks there, but I am not clued-up enough to be sure.

Very interesting.

The find in the museum in Rotterdam appears exactly like mine. Thank you!

Hanger met Davidster en zes bladvormen met bloem erin

posted 04-10-2015 05:13 AM            

Bedouin pieces with Star of David motifs (first image flipped for same orientation as others):