Minneapolis Institute of Art

Hamsa amulet

Morocco

Date

c. 1920

Medium

Gold, diamonds, pearls

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The Hamsa (five) hand is a common motif in Jewish iconography but is not necessarily Jewish in origin. In fact, the open hand, often with an embedded eye, as a protective talisman against the Evil Eye dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. This example includes a bird with a gemstone eye. In Arab cultures the symbol is known as the Hand of Fatima, a reference to the Prophet Muhammad's daughter. The Hamsa symbol has spread in popularity as a good luck symbol for many cultures. Morocco, Africa

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.