Producer unknown to us
Navel amulet
Americas, North America, Great Plains
19th century
Leather, beadwork
Collection context unknown to us
Handed over to the museum by Museum für Vorgeschichte Halle/Saale in 1953
NAm 4676
This suede navel amulet in the shape of a turtle was embroidered with multicolored beads.
Navel amulets are highly symbolic handicrafts that are supposed to protect their wearer. They are most commonly found in North American Plains communities. In a metaphorical sense, the umbilical cord represents not only a child’s bond with its mother but also, in a sense, a bond with the family, community, and culture. Therefore, parents used to preserve their child’s umbilical cord and sew it into an amulet crafted by the child’s mother or another family member.
These beaded pouches were in the shape of animals believed to have protective properties, such as turtles or lizards, to ensure happiness, safety, and a long life for the children. Besides serving as talismans, these amulets were also attached to the crib and served as the child’s first toy. Typically, they were later worn as pendants, and in some cases, were even buried with their owners.
This piece came to Leipzig from Museum für Vorgeschichte Halle/Saale in 1953 as part of the GDR’s museum profiling campaign.
Frank Usbeck