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Mediterranean & Iberian Folk · c. 1500 – today

Neapolitan charms (sirena & others)

Meaning

The Neapolitan repertoire includes the siren (sirena, a two-tailed mermaid under a crescent), keys, hearts, hunchbacks (gobbo), horseshoes, the mano pantea (a hand covered in symbols, descendant of the Sabazios hand) and compound charms.

Intent

They were worn and carried against jettatura and bad luck, and to bring fortune in love and money. They were bought at church doors and fairs, and many combined several charms in one.

Significance

Naples is Europe's richest living centre of evil-eye culture, and its charms record centuries of popular religion. The siren connects to the city's founding myth, since Naples was Parthenope, named after a siren.

History

Most surviving examples are 18th and 19th century silver, some coral. The tradition continues in modern plastic and gold charms sold throughout the city.

Making yours
1.5–5 cm cast and chased silver, gilt or plain.
Mediterranean & Iberian Folk: the tradition

Southern Italy and Spain kept the Roman fight against the evil eye going without a break. In Naples the belief in jettatura, the unlucky glance, was taken seriously enough that 19th-century gentlemen made the horns sign in their pockets; Nicola Valletta's Cicalata sul fascino volgarmente detto jettatura (1787) is its classic text. Spanish children wore belts hung with jet higas, crystal, coral and chestnuts. Walter Leo Hildburgh collected thousands of these amulets in the early 20th century and gave them to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Pitt Rivers and the Wellcome, which is why so many are in British museums today.

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Amulet, silver, Italian, 17th centuryAmulet, silver, Italian, 17th centuryItaly · 17th centurySilver amulet shaped like a crescent moon with a human face, Naples (Italy), 1800-1899Silver amulet shaped like a crescent moon with a human face, Naples (Italy), 1800-1899Naples · 1800-1899Amuletum: In ElitropioAmuletum: In ElitropioItaly · 1752Il talismano della CinaIl talismano della CinaItaly · 1951Il Talismano / Ballo composto dal Sig Fuchs / 1865Il Talismano / Ballo composto dal Sig Fuchs / 1865Italy · 1865Personaggio con amuleti sotto rami di ciliegioPersonaggio con amuleti sotto rami di ciliegioItalyAmulet from ItalyAmulet from ItalyItalyCharm, landscapeCharm, landscapeItalyAlstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyTwo coin-like amulets used to ward off vipers and the effectTwo coin-like amulets used to ward off vipers and the effectartA salesman in Rome with a snake selling amulets as antidotes or prophylactics against snake-bite to a crowd of people. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1821.A salesman in Rome with a snake selling amulets as antidotes or prophylactics against snake-bite to a crowd of people. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1821.Plate 03, fig 9. Folk-Lore, vol.Plate 03, fig 9. Folk-Lore, vol.Pendant amulet made from a curled spike of horn or tortoiseshell in a brass mount, Italy, 1800-1899Pendant amulet made from a curled spike of horn or tortoiseshell in a brass mount, Italy, 1800-1899Italy · 1800-1899Figurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865a woman with a charm and wanda woman with a charm and wandItalyAlstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyA salesman in Rome with a snake selling amulets as antidotes or prophylactics against snake-bite to a crowd of people. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1821.A salesman in Rome with a snake selling amulets as antidotes or prophylactics against snake-bite to a crowd of people. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1821.Stati uniti-canada, costa nord-ovest, haida, amuleto, in osso di cetaceo e conchiglia, xix secoloStati uniti-canada, costa nord-ovest, haida, amuleto, in osso di cetaceo e conchiglia, xix secoloAmulet, Italy, 18th to mid-19th centuryAmulet, Italy, 18th to mid-19th centuryItaly · 18th century - mid 19th centuryFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyAn itinerant salesman selling amulets against the bites of snakes and other animals to a crowd of people who purchase them eagerly. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1815.An itinerant salesman selling amulets against the bites of snakes and other animals to a crowd of people who purchase them eagerly. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1815.Various Amulets (49345516272)Various Amulets (49345516272)Silver heart-shaped reliquary case containing pieces of brocade, Italy, 1600-1799Silver heart-shaped reliquary case containing pieces of brocade, Italy, 1600-1799Italy · 1600-1799Figurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyAn itinerant salesman selling amulets against the bites of snakes and other animals to a crowd of people who purchase them eagerly. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1815.An itinerant salesman selling amulets against the bites of snakes and other animals to a crowd of people who purchase them eagerly. Etching by B. Pinelli, 1815.Italia, tre amuleti in cristallo di rocca, xiv-xvi secolo circaItalia, tre amuleti in cristallo di rocca, xiv-xvi secolo circaFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyA salesman in Rome with a snake selling amulets as antidotes or prophylactics against snake-bite to a crowd of people.. Pen drawing by B. Pinelli, 1821.A salesman in Rome with a snake selling amulets as antidotes or prophylactics against snake-bite to a crowd of people.. Pen drawing by B. Pinelli, 1821.A green triskelion charmA green triskelion charmFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Amulet islàmic d'Ifac, museu d'Història de CalpAmulet islàmic d'Ifac, museu d'Història de CalpFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Somalia, amuleti, in zinco, pasta vitrea e cuoio, xix secoloSomalia, amuleti, in zinco, pasta vitrea e cuoio, xix secoloFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Plate 03, fig 8. Folk-Lore, vol.Plate 03, fig 8. Folk-Lore, vol.Figurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775House at Mascli, where amulet was obtainedHouse at Mascli, where amulet was obtainedFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775S3 V7 tomba 10 amuletoS3 V7 tomba 10 amuletoFigurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Sumatra, batak, testa come talismano protettivo, 1891Sumatra, batak, testa come talismano protettivo, 1891Figurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'Alstroemeria 'Parigo Charm'ItalyClavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Clavicula, in Italian and Latin: preceded by 'Tre tavole di Livio Agrippa' (Three works by Livio Agrippa). c.1775Figurino. Il talismanoFigurino. Il talismanoItaly · 1865

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