Silver, enamel, glassexpand_more
The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fundexpand_more 91.141.17
The hand motif as a sign of protection, widespread in northern Africa even today, dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. In Arab cultures, it is popularly called the “Hand of Fatima,” after the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, while Jews in the Maghreb call it khamsa, from “five” in Arabic. The hand is believed to deflect the negative energy of the evil eye.
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