Protective magic against an enemy's weapons (pagar panutupi) - Chester Beatty Online Collections

Object Information

Manuscript

Object no:: Sum 1110

Title:: Protective magic against an enemy's weapons (pagar panutupi)

Creator:: Unknown
Sumatra

Production date:: 19th or early 20th century

Dimensions:: 38 mm x 61 mm x 28 mm (height x width x depth)

Material:: Ink (material) Bark Wood (material)

Language:: Batak languages

Collection:: Sumatran collection

Document type:: Manuscript

Object name:: Folded Book Amulet/Talisman

Description:: Book containing magic spells to be used against an enemy’s weapons (pagar panutupi), maker unknown, 19th or early 20th century, northern Sumatra. Ink on bark with wooden covers. The term ‘Batak’ covers a number of linguistic groups. This tree-bark book was made by the Simalungun of northern Sumatra. The small size of the object suggests it was made to be worn as an amulet.

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