About this work
Gold-washed necklace of mercury-gilded metal composed of numerous box-shaped amulet pendants (tälsäm) and a bead, made in Ethiopia in the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Original catalogue wording
Gold-washed necklace of mercury-gilded metal composed of numerous box-shaped amulet pendants (tälsäm) and a bead, made in Ethiopia in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The boxes, linked to Islamic amuletic practices, were meant to ward off the evil eye or other dangers whether empty or containing magical or prayerful texts. Their fine filigree and granulation work is characteristic of Harar as well as the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian city of Aksum.
Source classification: gilded amulet necklace
- Date
- late 1800s or early 1900s
- Object type
- Jewellery & adornment
- Recorded place
- Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, unknown silversmith
- Holding institution
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession
- 2025.154