Amulet consisting of a glass tube inside which is rolled up verses from the Hebrew Scriptures. [DCF Court Team 5/3/2003]

Collection type: Object
Description: Amulet consisting of a glass tube inside which is rolled up verses from the Hebrew Scriptures. [DCF Court Team 5/3/2003]
Geographical reference: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; England
Cultural groups: English
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector Henry Balfour; PRM source Henry Balfour
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1893
Date collected: By 1893
Acquisition information: Loaned: 03/1893 Bequeathed: 1939
Materials and processes: Material Glass, Material Paper Plant, Process Inscribed
Dimensions: Length: max 64 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1893.81.1
Research and responses: Mezuzah - small folded or rolled parchment inscribed by a qualified calligraphist with scriptural verses (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21) to remind Jews of their obligations toward God. The parchment is placed in a metal, wooden, or glass case so that the word Shaddai ("Almighty") can usually be seen on the back of the parchment. [Encyclopaedia Britannica on line] OED online: Mezuzah: A piece of parchment inscribed on one side with the required Pentateuchal texts and on the other with the divine name Shaddai, enclosed in a container and attached to the doorpost of a Jewish house in fulfilment of religious law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezuzah: Mezuzah literally means a 'doorpost' in Hebrew, and refers to one of the 613 commandments in Judaism which requires that a small parchment inscribed with two sections from the Torah's Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-9, 11:13-21) be affixed to each doorpost and gate in a Jewish home, synagogue and business. ... Thus the word mezuzah can refer to any of the following, simply the doorpost of a permanent door, gate or arch; the special parchment with the required Hebrew inscription; the small case or box that typically covers the parchment ... [AP 28/09/2006]
Associated publications: Published in the 'Inventory of Judaica and Hebraica in Oxford Colleges and Museums' on the website of the Oxford Jewish Heritage Commitee at https://www.oxfordjewishheritage.co.uk/projects/judaica-and-relevant-hebraica-in-oxford/89-inventory-of-judaica-and-hebraica (2009); '3) Amulet, probably a mezuzah. A glass tube, inside which is an inscribed roll of paper/parchment. Accession number: 1893.81.1 A mezuzah. Originally catalogued at the Museum as: "Jewish charm for fixing to doorways, a verse from the Quran [sic] in a glass tube, English." Stoppered glass tube with a roll of parchment inside. The outside of the scroll is said to be inscribed with the word "Shaddai", but it is now too fragile to be extracted from the tube and inspected. Loaned to the Museum by Henry Balfour, the first curator, in 1893 (bequeathed in 1939).' [JC 14 11 2019]

Search terms: Religion, Writing, Amulet, Inscription