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A kind of magic
A kind of magic
People have used talismans, charms and amulets
to protect themselves from harm and to promote good fortune since
the earliest times.
The
first amulets were probably the claws and teeth of animals like
lions and tigers, carried because it was thought they connected the
wearer with the animal spirit world that would empower and protect
them. Since then, the belief in powerful objects has been almost
universal and can still be witnessed in people's behaviour
today.
The objects in this
tour illustrate the many ways in which magical or powerful objects
have been used. Some were worn by the living to avoid common
ailments or as charms for good luck or a general sense of
well-being. Others were placed in graves and in tombs to protect
the dead. There are also objects that were used to protect whole
buildings rather than
individuals.
This tour was
written to accompany the exhibition A Kind
of Magic at the Henry Moore Institute,
Leeds (2 April-29 June 2003). The exhibition was curated by Stephen
Feeke and James Putnam. It was part of a series of collaborations
between the Henry Moore Institute, part of the Henry Moore
Foundation, and the British Museum's Contemporary Arts and
Cultures Programme.