This georgeous little beaded snake amulet dates from around World War One, originally these were made by Turkish pow’s in the tradition of snake protection amulets and good luck charms from their homelands in Anatolia. Some continued to make them in the years after the war as a cottage industry.
Snake and Serpent cults existed in the region of Turkey, Greece, and Cypress as long ago as 6000BC, and the snake has remained a symbol of good luck and protection in the region right up to the 20th century. When Turkish and Anatolian soldiers were being held prisoner during the first world war they worked making various beaded items to sell, trade and even send back home to family. One of the most popular things to make were these little snake amulets. They have become quite collectible in recent years, i got this one from a private collecter who had aquired it in the 1980’s along with a few other pieces of period beadwork.
She one has lost the tip of her tail but is in otherwise good condition, for this reason she is being offered at a far lower price than they usually fetch, but she’s still a really lovely little piece of magical folk art!
