Amulet Holder

Not on view

This Qur'an holder is a doga-kumus, a small box that hangs from a chain or a leather strap that was hung over the shoulder or around the neck. This type of silver jewelry was used to keep Muslim prayers, talismans, keys, or coins, and was typically worn by older women. According to an eighteenth-century legend, these hanging Qur'an holders symbolize Islamic power over evil spirits. The front of the box is decorated with gilded and embossed silver disks in half-moon and triangle shapes, set with carnelians. Silver wire and horn motifs decorate the border of the plates and twelve spherical pendants hang from six double-link chains.

Amulet Holder, Silver and brass alloy; fire-gilded, with ram's-head terminals, loop-in-loop chains, bells, decorative wire, gilt-applied decoration, table-cut carnelians, and applique discs on leather

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Amulet Holder, Silver and brass alloy; fire-gilded, with ram's-head terminals, loop-in-loop chains, bells, decorative wire, gilt-applied decoration, table-cut carnelians, and applique discs on leather
Amulet Holder, Silver and brass alloy; fire-gilded, with ram's-head terminals, loop-in-loop chains, bells, decorative wire, gilt-applied decoration, table-cut carnelians, and applique discs on leather

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.