charm case; armlet (arm ornament)

Woman's charm case in kerima or kidney-shaped form on a string of stone and nut beads. The charm case is decorated with a scroll pattern. A cylindrical loop above through which the necklace is threaded and a further loop below . The charm case is decorated in a raised pattern and set with turquoise, with several stones missing. The box is held closed with a gold coloured string that loops around the decoration and forms a cross on the back. The string is orange-brown and tied with a knot at one end. Two large red beads, amber or perhaps coral, real or fake, on either side of the case and alternating pink stones and nuts on the rest of the string.

The amulet is in the ‘kerima’ or ‘kidney shaped’ form (see also nn11097.1-3, nn3662 and nn3656). It would have belonged to a woman. It may be decorated with amber, or perhaps coral (real or fake). Generally the amber used came from the Baltic and the coral was quite often Italian.

Collection Information

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