Recently acquired Arab talismans or charms.

[David R]

Following on from my buying jag for Khanjar/Jambiya I also bought some small items of the sort that might go on the belt. Low grade coin silver for the most part, or possibly even base metal.

Non of them open to take anything else inside and the first one is flat and not hollow at all.

[Peter Hudson]

Hirz/Lucky Charm boxes

These are probably Yemeni in a typically less pure silver which actually makes for a harder metal. Number 1 is a lucky charm pendant with a figure 5 geometric arrangement shown along the top edge...from which beads or little squares were often hung ... these danglers are known as Hands of Fatima...Daughter of the Prophet. The glass beaded decoration on the face of the box is another 5 geometry usually seen with just a bead/glass in each corner and one in the middle. Here seen with 4 in the middle and one in each corner. Inside the box is sometimes a verse of religious script or empty. The box may be sealed with pitch.

The smaller shaped boxes are alsp Hirz. These jewellery items were often given by the groom and the silver coloured items were preferred as gold was a bit OTT. Similar items can be seen across Arabia.