LARGE DAMASCENE BRASS HAMSA North Africa, 19th or 20th century.

A large plaque in the form of a stylized Hamsa, decorated from bottom with masonry base, topped by two lions supporting outlined hand with large Hebrew letter (Shin) and central open eye; the three raised central fingers bear Hebrew and Aramaic inscriptions and Star of David. Overall Damascene work forming interlace pattern. The masonry, lions’ bodies, eye and outline are red. The Hebrew Biblical inscription reads “Blessed are you when you come, blessed are you when you go.” The Aramaic reads “We come from the descendants of Joseph... the evil eye has no power over us.” A hook for hanging is mounted on the back. H: 500mm.

The Hamsa is a Near Eastern good luck symbol, based on the human hand