Beyond Magic: Contextual and Material Study of Islamic Amulets

Islamic amulets abound from across Dar al Islam, a testimony to a buzzing religious and commercial creativity.

This project will put their materiality centre-stage by exploring production and use, elements rarely addressed in research. It will analyse amulets to learn of the craftspeople and users who had left little record in written narratives. Shedding light on little explored Islamic collections at MAA, it will develop new means for their analysis.

This will put centre-stage marginalised people and collections, while employing innovative technologies to redress the imbalance of research.

The proposed project will combine MAA's extensive collections with world-leading expertise in religious and digital history at Queen Mary University of London, to add to our understanding of a key element of Islamic culture and religion.

It will put these objects centre-stage, combining the examination of their materiality with documentary evidence for their production, dissemination and use.

Beyond Magic will be supported by expertise from the Hidden in Plain Sight research team, who will provide a range of innovative scientific technologies, including 3D microscopy, CT scanning and ancient DNA to facilitate the student's exploration of Islamic amulets. Results of the project will engage faith-groups and academic audiences alike.