DepartmentMiddle East

hijāb or hegab

NameAmulet

Dateca. 1850-1899

Place madeMiddle East, Asia

Mediumsilver

Dimensions23 5/8 × 4 5/16 in. (60 × 11 cm)

Credit LineIFAF Collection

Object numberFA.1972.25.3 J

Collections

Palestinian Dress and Jewelry

DescriptionPointed bottom, large coin suspended on chain from point of amulet, two large coins suspended on chain from each side of amulet. Raised grap-like pattern on face of amulet. Amulet hangs at end of long chain.

FA. 72.25-3j 18 Diameter of amulet: 4.3 cm. Hijab (second half of the nineteenth century) (Fig. 45) The triangle is considered the quintessential amulet in the Middle East. As noted in the preceding chapter, this motif in embroidery is designated simply as hijāb. The impor- tance of this figure is no doubt due to the fact that it is an odd number like five, seven, nine, and eleven-all of which are considered efficacious in warding off the effects of the Evil Eye. This hijab is made of silver and hangs on a chain of figure-eight links, also of silver. The triangle has a scalloped frame and is decorated with raised silver nodes which form a small inner triangle. Five short chains ending in Turkish coins, all of which are dated A.H. 1223 (a.d. 1808-9), hang from the triangle. The central chain is slightly longer than others. This particular hijab is reported to come from the Tayaha Bedouins of Southern Palestine. Variants of it may be seen throughout the Middle East and North Africa, 19 Length of chain: 60 cm. (Palestinian Costume and Jewelry, Yedida Kalfon Stillman, 1979 ISBN: 0-82630490-7)