tcherot (Amulet)

These amulet pendants (3420/64-69), with inscribed decoration, contain folded pieces of paper with verses of protective prayers. The prayers are written by a marabot (Islamic teacher), copied from the QurÔÇÖan. Before being sealed inside their protective pendant, the amulet is blessed using incense.

Rectangular metal amulet with concave, "pinched" sides. The amulet contains layers of rectangles, diamonds, and triangles in silver with gold a yellow and orange resin(?) diamond with a raised silver sphere set at centre. The front is etched with geometric designs and script. Strung on a long black fibre cord, which attaches at both upper corners of the amulet, with the ends hanging as tassels hang on either side of the amulet. Each tassel is wrapped with a brown and a green band. On the back, an etched square with diagonal lines within.