Lot 41 A LATE ROMAN/EARLY BYZANTINE SCROLL/AMULET CASE IN ELECTRUM WITH A MENORAH, 5TH/6TH CENTURY AD

A highly important scroll/amulet case in electrum with the filigreed granulated design of a menorah flanked by a palm frond and shofar. This wonderful cylindrical amulet case was obviously made for an adherent of the Jewish faith and almost certainly held a scroll either engraved on gold or silver foil or parchment as was probable in this case. The nature of the amulets were often magical written in Aramaic and were talismans to protect the owner from harm. The small hole in the casing seems to show nothing inside meaning that the scroll would have been from an organic material. The cylinder has two soldered loops attached for suspension and the terminals are decorated with filigreed wire petalled flowers with a small central boss.
33 by 18 mm.
Weight: 6.1 gr.

PROVENANCE
From a European collection formed in the 1980's.