84 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



other enchantments by the Arabs is known in North Africa 

 as the Hand of Fatima; this, however, is an open hand, and 

 probably enough has no connection with the curious "fig- 

 hand."* 



There is in the National Museum of the Society of An- 

 tiquaries of Scotland (No. 183 in Section L) an ivory amulet 

 which at one time enjoyed high repute in Argyleshire as a 

 cure for madness. This was a plate measuring 7 J in. in 

 length and about 4 in. in width.f 



An ivory amulet, figuring a small dog, is said to be worn 

 on a bracelet by Queen Mary of England, and to be valued 

 by her as a luck-bringing talisman, or to ward off evil. As 

 we have seen, the ancient Egyptians already had their ivory 

 amulets, so that in addition to its value as a most delicately 

 beautiful material for ornamental work, ivory is not lacking 

 in the possession of more occult virtues, if ancient tradition 

 and modern fancy are to be trusted. To this ivory dog 

 of Queen Mary may be added, if gossip is to be believed, 

 an auto-amulet, or mascot, favoured by King George V. 

 This is a small bronze figure of Britannia, whose hands bear 

 a royal or imperial crown; a lion is crouching at her feet. 

 This symbol of sovereignty is certainly not an unworthy type 

 of amulet for a British monarch. J 



What may be regarded as a work testifying to the posses- 

 sion of a remarkable natural endowment by the artist is 

 entitled "The Procession of Elephants" and was cut out of 

 a solid piece of ivory by an American, a travelling salesman 

 for a wholesale shoe manufacturer. Suffering from jaded 

 nerves he took up ivory carving as a relief. He did not 

 enjoy the advantage of an instructor's teaching, but by means 



*See. W. L. Hildburgh, "Further Notes on Spanish Amulets," in Folk Lore, Vol. XXIV, 

 No. 1, March 31, 1913, p. 65. 



tWilliam Jones, "Credulities Past and Present," London, 1880, p. 161. 

 tFrom the Jewellers' Circular Weekly, February 5, 1913, p. 153. 



