2010.46.57

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 an eagle in the centre and floral design. The back of the amulet is plain with hook 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 43 x 22 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 2010.46.57 Other numbers: 20d

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, Bird Figure