Amulet

Museum number:
16-18547
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21160018547
Alternate number:
6 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.3422
Description:
Amulet, fist ("figa"—to protect from evil), plastic, painted tricolor (lower one-third red; fist; upper one-third black). Metal ring for hanging at upper end. 5 cm.
Donor:
Daryl P. Domning and University Appropriation
Collection place:
Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil
Verbatim coll. place:
Brazil
Culture or time period:
Afro-Brazilian
Collector:
Daryl P. Domning
Collection date:
April 1978
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Amulets
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Context of use:
Used in Umbanda, one of the Afro-Brazilian possession cults. Someone must give "figa" as a gift. Purpose is to protect from evil.
Department:
South America (except Ancient Peru)
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 16-18547, described as Amulet, fist ("figa"—to protect from evil), plastic, painted tricolor (lower one-third red; fist; upper one-third black). Metal ring for hanging at upper end. 5 cm.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 16-18547, described as Amulet, fist ("figa"—to protect from evil), plastic, painted tricolor (lower one-third red; fist; upper one-third black). Metal ring for hanging at upper end. 5 cm.

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