2010.46.53

Collection type

Object

Description

Silver amulet in the form of a decorative hook. [FB 24/01/2012]

Long description

Silver amulet in the form of a decorative hook. The hook is oval in shape with plain circular centre and floral and winged cherub design with flower finial. The back of the amulet is plain with metal loop for suspension. [FB 24/01/2012]

Geographical reference

Italy

Europe > Southern Europe > Italy

Naples Napoli

Cultural groups

Italian

Person

Field collector Eustace Neville-Rolfe

PRM source Veronica Berry

PRM source Patrick Higham

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1880

Date collected

between 1880 - 1900

Acquisition information

Bequeathed: 05/07/2010

Materials and processes

Material Silver Metal, Process Incised, Process Moulded, Process Cast, Process Struck

Dimensions

Length x Width: max 78 x 40 mm, Weight 17.4 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 2010.46.53 Other numbers: 19c

Research and responses

See 'Neapolitan Charms Against the Evil Eye' by Veronica Berry in Folklore, vo.79, No. 4 (Winter 1968), pp. 250 - 256 [FB 24/01/2012]

and 'The Evil Eye An Account of this Ancient and Widespread Superstition' by Fredrick Thomas Elworthy (1895). [FB 24/01/2012]

See Eustace Neville-Rolfe, Naples in 1888, Trübner, 1888. [FB 24/01/2012]

See Eustace Neville-Rolfe, Naples in the Nineties a sequel to Naples in 1888, Adam and Chas. Black, London, 1897. [FB 25/01/2012]

Eustace Neville-Rolfe lived in Naples between 1880 and 1900 and was an enthusiastic researcher and collector of amulets against the evil eye. He first loaned artefacts to PRM in 1892 (including a lemon stuck with nails which is now on display) and subsequently in 1893, 1903 and 1908. Rofle was consul in Naples, he was part of a network of amulet specialists including many whose collections are now at PRM (AE Gunther and Elworthy in particular as well as Balfour). [FB 24/01/2012]

Search terms: Religion, Ornament, Figure, Amulet