Shadday amulet Venice, Italy, early 20th century
Cast and engraved silver, velvet and silver threads, ink on parchment
Courtesy of a private collection, Casale Monferrato (Italy)
Must Know
This Italian amulet is called a “Shaddai (Almighty) amulet” due of the appearance of this title of God. Its iconography is common to amulets of this type and includes the two stone tablets and temple symbols such as a menorah and altar. A protective parchment is inserted into a slot in one of its sides.
This amulet belonged to Elda Wollemborg, who received it in April 1925 to mark her marriage to Adolfo Corinaldi, scion to a family of counts. Their marriage united two of the most important families of Padova’s Jewish community. The silver menorah motif added later came from a cover of a siddur Wollemborg received as a wedding gift. The amulet was also marked with the Fascist regime stamp.
The rise of Fascism and the introduction of Italian racial laws forced the Corinaldi family to flee Padova and take refuge in a priest’s house. Before leaving they hid their valuables inside a double wall in their home. The house was seized, damaged and plundered. In 1947 they returned. The valuable items were waiting for them within the double wall.
