1985.52.1001.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Amulet, textile and linen pouch with 5 pieces of folded paper printed in black ink in Latin and French [1985.52.1001 .2- .6]. The pouch is triangular in shape , made from blue textile with two strips of linen stitched inside. [ASh [OPS move] 18/1/2017]

Long description

Amulet, textile and linen pouch [.1] with pieces of folded paper printed in black ink in Latin and French [.2- .6]. The pouch is triangular shaped blue textile with two strips of linen stitched inside [.1]. With the pouch there are also five pieces of paper; [.2] is a double sided page of Latin prayer and inscriptions, [.3] is a strip of paper with incomplete text in Latin and French, [.4] is a strip of paper with incomplete text in French, [.5] and [.6] are two blank pieces of paper. [ACA 23/04/2012]

Geographical reference

France

Europe > Western Europe > France

Paris

Person

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source Wellcome Institute

PRM source Wellcome Historical Medical Museum

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1931

Date collected

By 1931

Acquisition information

Transferred: 1985

Materials and processes

Material Paper Plant, Material Textile, Material Linen Flax Bast Fibre Textile Plant, Material Ink, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Process Printed, Process Stitched, Process Inscribed

Dimensions

Length: max 37 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1985.52.1001.1 Other numbers: 2000

Associated publications

This amulet was selected for the Small Blessings project website [http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets], online text as follows: 'Amulets containing handwritten or printed texts on sheets and scraps of parchment or paper have been used since the Middle Ages. Worn around the neck or carried on the body, they were thought to drive away evil spirits, bring good fortune, offer protection, and heal afflictions. Many amulets like this one contained religious texts, and were sanctioned and produced by the Church. Unlike other religious objects with brief devotional inscriptions, textual amulets afforded the capacity to carry entire prayers and long passages in small rolls and folded sheets of paper. Enclosed in capsules, pouches and purses, they were also relatively inexpensive, lightweight, portable, and concealable. This blue triangular fabric pouch was acquired in Paris. It contained five pieces of folded paper, with Latin and French prayers and inscriptions printed in black ink. The Latin text was printed in Marseilles in 1883, and is a reprint of a 17th century Franciscan text. It includes several passages and prayers asking for protection and blessing, including the beginning of the holy Gospel according to John and Si quaeris miracula (ʻIf Thou Seekest Miraclesʼ), which was once a popular devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua.' [CB 29/08/2012]

Search terms: Religion, Bag, Writing, Amulet, Inscription, Religious Object