Abstract
The paper is dealing with the artistic content and symbolism of the seven Jewish amulets from the Modern period kept in the Jewish Museum in Prague. Author also shortly describes the art on some amulets of the late antiquity and of the middle ages.
The first analyzed amulet is a woodcut from 18th century and its origins can be traced to Sulzbach in Germany. Its copies can be found in collections of other institutions and also of private collectors.
The most significant element of this amulet is the frame depicting a ritual of circumcision, Adam and Eve and basic floral motifs. Text of the amulet contains historiola about prophet Elijah exorcising Lilith, Psalm 121 and other minor magic phrases.
Other technique commonly used in the manufacture of amulets was papercuting. Two papercuts used as amulets are also introduced in this paper.
The bigger one was made in Slovakia and can be dated to the year 1878. It is very rich in colourful illustrations of lions, stags and birds.
The last four amulets were created via lithography. Some Yisrael ben Yaakov Weinzen created the oldest one in Karlsruhe, Germany, in the year 1868.
The menorah and the star of David depicted on this amulet are created only from the Hebrew text itself. While the menorah consists of the Psalm 67, the star of David contains Psalm 121, Malachi 3:23-24 and the piyut Prophet Elijah.
Two other lithographs are copies from the same lithographic stone, whose artwork was made in 1888 by Joseph ben Moshe Chayim Bloch from Bohemia. They are very similar to the amulet from 1868, however the star of David includes an extra verse of Malachi 3,20.
The last lithograph is anonymous and is dated to the end of 19th century. There are three stars of David and one menorah.
The right star consists of the Hashkiveinu blessing and the left star consists of the piyut Halelujah and of blessing Baruch Adonai Leolam. In the middle of the amulet is the third star of David, which contains again Psalm 121 with additional Psalm 123 and two verses from Psalm 124.
We can easily see, how much the liturgy of the synagogue influenced creators of amulets.