Posted 9 years ago
LOUMANAL
(436 items)
I bought this OMAMORI from a reputable Jewelry dealer at an Antique Show in Florida who had bought it decorated with Amethyst beads hanging from the holes along the edge. She thought that it was a Silver pendant that people wore on a chain. I did tell her exactly what it was.
I had found a similar one about 20 years ago that depicted another deity and I was lucky at the time to have been given an expensive New York Antiques magazine that showed how these were used by the Japanese as an Amulet (omamori) in the 18th-19th centuries. There was a glossy photo at the back of the magazine with a completely decorated hat. When a child was born, the grandmother would sew a special hat (somewhat like a joker's hat) in silk that had 3 or four points and these Amulets were sewn on the points. The hat was given to the mother for the child to wear specifically to ward off evil spirits and for good luck. The Amulets were all different and usually made of silver and had special meanings/purposes. The holes along the amulets were there to sew it securely to the hats after the amulet had been stuck on the points. They measured around 1 1/2". This one had a loop added in later years to use it as a pendant on a chain. It looks OK if it is not turned around. RER(BOB)
Good write up, Bob. FYI: 'sew' and 'sewn' are the correct spelling, 'Sow' and 'sown' are farming terms. It means 'to plant', as in: "The farmer sowed (planted) his fields with corn and cabbage." Hope you don't take this the wrong way. Not making fun and no disrespect intended. Just a former English teacher coming to the surface. Please excuse me. [;>)
Super post and beautiful piece, Bob!
I learnt something new today about what is OMAMORI. Merci pour ces précisions!
Nevada, I noticed too the sewing/sowing part, Bob is a French Canadian :-)
Kyratango and NevadaBlades.....thanks for the comments....of course it should have been sew and I wouldn't have made this mistake even a few years ago but Bob is old and forgetful. Graduated from university in the sixties and I even forget those good old days. Bob
Oh-oh, I'm not too far behind you, Bob! I guess it won't be too much longer for me, too, then! LOL! [;>)))))))
Tango >>> Ahhh, French-Canadian, is he? Well, then, I am envious! I've heard that French-Canadian gals are real knock-outs! Is that true, Bob??? [;>)))
Il y en a des belles mais aussi de moins belles! Proofreading is not my forte and therein lies the problem. Bob
Bande de machos! (French comment from a French girl, lol!)
Thank you Destiny.Jennifer.g., mikelv85, kivatinitz, Midnight1208 and melaniej for the loves. RER(Bob)
Kyratango! Des vieux machos!
Thank you SEAN68, aura and vetraio50 for the loves. RER(BOB)