Brass and silver metal holder

[JanGroen]

Good day
I am trying to figure out more about this holder. It is brass and a white metal. Can't find any makers mark. The front do have Arabic writing on it. Any help is welcome
Groete
Jannie

[Damon]

Hello Jannie

This is an amulet designed to be hung around the neck or perhaps from a garment.

See a related piece at https://omanisilver.com/contents/en-us/ ... ulets.html You will need to scroll down a bit to find the "Oman amulet with a magic quadrant".

If you google "magic squares bedouin silver" you ought to find another related image on a commecial site.

The 3 x 3 squares on your item each contain a number and the three numbers in each column or row or major diagonal add up to 15. I don't know if 15 has any particular significance.

There is additional information at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_squ ... lim_Iberia and there is a suggestion that such an amulet with 3 x 3 squares is associated with child bearing.

A very interesting piece. Thanks for posting.

Damon

[JanGroen]

Hello Jannie

This is an amulet designed to be hung around the neck or perhaps from a garment.

See a related piece at https://omanisilver.com/contents/en-us/ ... ulets.html You will need to scroll down a bit to find the "Oman amulet with a magic quadrant".

If you google "magic squares bedouin silver" you ought to find another related image on a commecial site.

The 3 x 3 squares on your item each contain a number and the three numbers in each column or row or major diagonal add up to 15. I don't know if 15 has any particular significance.

There is additional information at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_squ ... lim_Iberia and there is a suggestion that such an amulet with 3 x 3 squares is associated with child bearing.

A very interesting piece. Thanks for posting.

Damon

Thanks Damon, I was wondering what the numerals in the blocks represents. The object is actually a box with lid.
Here are some more images

Groete
Jannie

[Damon]

Hello Jannie

Thanks for the additional photos. I had not appreciated the size or depth of your item

I now think it is a Quran box, likely from North Africa

If you google "Morocco Quran box" you will find similar items including some with the nine numbers in the 3 X 3 square

Damon