personal ideas - science museum

Paper amulet in the shape of a black cat, England, 1914-1918

A black cat crosses your path – good luck or bad luck? A soldier used this black cat as a good luck charm during the First World War. It’s an amulet – an object you wear or hold in the belief it has spiritual power to protect you. Why would the soldier need it? His London regiment were based on the Western Front, where conditions in the trenches could seem hopeless. The men had seen friends killed in action, been close to death themselves, and felt they had little control over their survival. Spanish soldiers in the late 1800s wore amulets with the inscription ‘Détente, bala!’ – ‘Stop, bullet!’ But amulets didn’t have to be that specific, just something you could believe in. The soldier felt this black cat could bring him safety from the dangers of the war. How effective was it? Did it make him invincible? It’s unlikely he thought so. If he got wounded, he would probably have accepted the best treatment that medicine could provide. But at the same time, he could put his hope and belief in a protective amulet.

I really like this paper amulet, it looks like someone has taken about 3 seconds to put together the scraps of their sewing box to create this. It also looks like it could of been made today.  I think i want to make my own amulet, but my own interpretation.

Mole's foot amulet, Norfolk, England, 1890-1910

The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to as folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, carrying a mole’s forefoot in a pocket as an amulet to prevent cramp is a medical tradition specific to the East Anglian region of England. The feet were either hacked off a mole or bought from a shop. As an amulet against toothache, moles’ feet have a much longer and wider tradition, being recommended by the Roman writer Pliny in the first century CE. .. ew

Stone amulet 

Soft pitted grey stone carried to protect against toothache, South Devon, England, 1871-1910

The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to as folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, this pitted grey stone on the right was believed to cure toothache. It was hoped that the pain would be transferred from the person to the stone. pictured here with four other amulets against toothache: two large animal teeth  and , a stone and a triple hazelnut 

I find the idea of amulets and lucky charms really interesting, thinking that something made of stone could genuinely bring you good health or luck. 

Wooden mask, Bhutan, 1850-1920

A smiling skull has been carved and painted on to this wooden mask. For centuries, masks like this one have been worn by monks or village elders in Bhutan, a land-locked country in south-east Asia. The masks are worn during ritual dances of saints, princesses, gods and demons at religious festivals or tsechus. The dances commemorate the triumph of Buddhist doctrines over evil. Those who attend the festivals are believed to gain merits and blessings, good karma and good luck.

Albarello drug jar for Sanicle, Italy, 1601-1800

The jar on the right was used to store Sciroppo di Sannicola, Latin for “Syrup of Sanicle”. Sanicle is a herb related to parsley and was mixed with sugar to make a syrup. The plant’s name is Latin for “healthy”. The syrup was taken by the spoonful to heal internal ulcers, especially in the kidneys and bladder. 

Albarello drug jar, Italy, 1720-1790

Drug jars were sometimes decorated with unusual scenes. Elephants were a common feature at royal zoos, but were still considered very exotic and unusual and were clearly the inspiration for the illustration. Albarello vases, with their characteristic hourglass shape and multicoloured decoration, originated in Persia. This shape was developed so that many jars could be put on one shelf yet each still be safely removed by grasping it around the middle. This type of decorated pottery is known as maiolica (or majolica) and is believed to be named after the island of Majorca, where the finest pots of this type were said to be made.

Had a browse at the science museum to give me some ideas.  I liked the idea of re creating my own drug jars.