This collection shows a variety of amulets used for centuries in the Himalayan mountains. These have a deep patina and show signs of many years of use. These amulets are from Nuristan, Afghanistan and/or the Swat Valley Pakistan and date from the early 1900’s or earlier. They have obvious signs of extensive use. Such amulets were multi-purpose. Some were placed or tied to sacks of wheat or other grains, showing that they had been weighted and checked. Others were bound around an animal’s neck to protect it from the evil eye and illness. The amulets are carved with luck and fertility symbols, and some have blessed quotations inserted in the wood, closed off with a wooden peg, or wax (see pictures for details). The wood has not been polished and is in its original state. Lengths range from 11 cm to 5 cm. These items were collected in Afghanistan in the early 1970's and formed part of an extensive selection of Afghan traditional items.