FINALLY big hamsa hamsha pendants with settings--three for five dollars etsyChai Team, Team ESST, etsyTrashion Team

Description

I have been trying to find these at a price that would allow me to resell them since I got my first few at slightly more than you'll be paying for these.

These hands not only look cool, but have major significance for both Jews and Muslims. (And I suspect a relationship also to the Hand of Buddha, usually holding some manifestation of a deity and thought to protect the bearer or wearer)

From Wikipedia:

"The Hamsa (Arabic: Khamsa, literally "five", Hebrew: Khamsa) is a symbol used in amulets, charms and jewelry to protect against the "evil eye."

An alternative Islamic name for this charm is the Hand of Fatima or Eye of Fatima, in reference to Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Muhammad. An alternative Jewish name is the Hand of Miriam, in reference to Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. It is a kind of "protecting hand" or "hand of G-d".

Some associate the significance of the five fingers to the five books of the Torah for Jews, the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, or the five People of the Cloak for Shi'ites. This symbolism may have evolved at a later stage, in view of the fact that archaeological evidence suggests the hamsa predates both religions.

In recent years some activists for Middle East peace have chosen to wear the hamsa as a symbol of the similarities of origins and tradition between the Islamic and Jewish faiths. The fingers can point up or down."

These big ones are so totally cool, and so pretty with their henna-type decorations, and it's such fun to fill up the setting and add dangles and goodies.

So they say "Souvenir de Maroc" on the back. If you care, I suppose you could paint or collage over it, or glue on fabric or leather. Personally, I like it--it adds an air of mystery and adventure to whatever else is on it.

These are made of Tibetan silver, like the smaller ones listed elsewhere in this shop. They are almost 2 1/2" long by about 1 1/2" wide and quite flat.

See the last 2 photos for an example of what I've done with them--I hope you'll enjoy them too!

Thanks for visiting Findings. We hope you’ve found exactly what you need to finish a project or inspire a new one. Come back soon—new items are added often. You may also want to cruise on over to our original etsy store, The Creative Block, at http://www.siragwatkins.etsy.com to see some of these things in use as well as some of Leslie’s other original work.

Added on Oct 27, 2009

Shipping

ship to:	cost:	with another item:
United States	$4.50 USD	$1.00 USD
Everywhere Else	$9.00 USD	$1.50 USD

Payment methods

• 
• Check

Got a question about this item?

• contact the seller
• view this shop's policies