Collection of amulets and raw materials for the preparation of amulets, from the estate of Rabbi Rafael (Rafi) Nahmani, an amulet writer of Moroccan descent. [Israel, second half of the 20th century].
Unique collection, containing a rich variety of amulets of different types and raw materials for amulet preparation.
Collection includes:
* About 40 signed amulets (sewn or glued), including amulets made of paper or other organic materials.
* Dozens of raw materials for making amulets (most held in boxes or bags), including copper and tin plates, pieces of cloth, leather and parchment, various minerals and crystals, a mortar and pestle, part of an animal antler, a rabbit heart, hoopoe tongues, hoopoe hearts, hoopoe feathers, snake heads, a bag of walnuts, leaves and bones.
* About 270 handwritten leaves containing draft copies of amulet texts, Angelic Script, amulet formulas, amulet texts written by Nahmani for himself, letter crosswords and various inscriptions.
* Seven handwritten notebooks and notepads containing piyyutim, Jewish laws pertaining to animal slaughter, and formulas, amulet illustrations and Angelic Script (some of the items may have been written in Morocco).
* About 140 printed leaves containing amulets with portraits of Moroccan rabbis and printed Israeli amulets, photocopies of amulets created by Nahmani, and more.
* A leather belt, a cloth belt and an undershirt belonging to Nahmani, to which numerous amulets are attached with adhesive tape.
Size and condition vary.