Amulets and Talismans

Physical identification

Protective pendants, scarabs, faience figures and devotional objects. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Small size makes provenance especially important.
• Popular forms are widely reproduced.
• Material and drilling technology should fit the claimed period.

Provenance and lawful movement

Ask when the object first appeared outside the ground, who owned it, where it was located, how it left its likely source country and whether the seller warrants good title in writing.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.