Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Recently acquired Arab talismans or charms.

Peter Hudson · 10th December 2022, 04:27 PM

Hirz/Lucky Charm boxes

These are probably Yemeni in a typically less pure silver which actually makes for a harder metal. Number 1 is a lucky charm pendant with a figure 5 geometric arrangement shown along the top edge...from which beads or little squares were often hung ... these danglers are known as Hands of Fatima...Daughter of the Prophet. The glass beaded decoration on the face of the box is another 5 geometry usually seen with just a bead/glass in each corner and one in the middle. Here seen with 4 in the middle and one in each corner. Inside the box is sometimes a verse of religious script or empty. The box may be sealed with pitch.

The smaller shaped boxes are alsp Hirz. These jewellery items were often given by the groom and the silver coloured items were preferred as gold was a bit OTT. Similar items can be seen across Arabia.

10th December 2022, 04:27 PM	#2
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	Hirz/Lucky Charm boxes These are probably Yemeni in a typically less pure silver which actually makes for a harder metal. Number 1 is a lucky charm pendant with a figure 5 geometric arrangement shown along the top edge...from which beads or little squares were often hung ... these danglers are known as Hands of Fatima...Daughter of the Prophet. The glass beaded decoration on the face of the box is another 5 geometry usually seen with just a bead/glass in each corner and one in the middle. Here seen with 4 in the middle and one in each corner. Inside the box is sometimes a verse of religious script or empty. The box may be sealed with pitch. The smaller shaped boxes are alsp Hirz. These jewellery items were often given by the groom and the silver coloured items were preferred as gold was a bit OTT. Similar items can be seen across Arabia. Last edited by Peter Hudson; 10th December 2022 at 04:40 PM.