TERRA COTTA HORSESHOE PLAQUE
In 1996, i saw this blue-glazed terra cotta horseshoe plaque in the
East-West Cafe in Sebastopol, California. The owner of the cafe,
who is from the Middle East, had imported a group of
magically protective
wall-hangings from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon to decorate the area behind
the cash register. Other plaques in the cafe collection
included a hamsa
hand and several Arabic prayers. This particular style of
plaque is made in Egypt, and in 2003 i
finally located the source, so it is now for sale in my shop.
Since horseshoes derive their
power from their resemblance to a vulva, in most regions
protective horseshoes are
hung in a downward facing or vulval position, as shown here. The
colour blue is of
significance in Southern Mediterranean, Aegean,
and Adriatic nations, where it is universally used in
apotropaic amulets against the evil eye. The blue beads on
this plaque are also known as "donkey beads," because strings of
them are hung around the necks of donketys to keep them safe from
the gaze of the envious.
In the Middle-East, and into Greece and Turkey, the association
between the colour blue and the image of the horseshoe is strong. In Turkey small metal or blue glass
horseshoes are combined with the protective all-seeing eye to form culturally specific
apotropaic wall hangings i call the horseshoe-and-eyes,
believed to ward off the evil eye.
Although actual horseshoes serve a protective function when
nailed above a door, this blue plaque serves double duty as a "lucky" amulet, particularly to bring on gambling
luck.
The two horse heads enhance the horseshoe's natural association
with horse-racing, and the three gold-coloured fake coins
(bearing Arabic words i have not been able to translate) symbolize
winning at the races.
For representations of horseshoes in various lucky and protective contexts, see the following pages:
actual horseshoes, miniature horseshoe models, and horseshoe sculptures
actual horseshoe as a protective amulet
horseshoe in El Secreto de la Virtuoso Herradura
terra cotta blue-glazed horseshoe plaque
miniature horseshoe package amulets
protection spells from Adams County, Illinois
horseshoe jewelry, charms, and amulets
horseshoe charms on European and American charm bracelets
horseshoe charm in Mexican snow-globe pyramid of luck
horseshoe figures on North American good luck coins
horseshoe charms in South American charm vials
horseshoe-and-eyes blue glass charms from Turkey
horseshoes as printed images
horseshoe image on Double Fast Luck Soap
horseshoe image on Double Luck Foods
horseshoe image on hoodoo votive candles
horseshoe image on Lucky Brown cosmetics packaging
horseshoe image on Lucky Mon-Gol Curio Number XI
horseshoe image on swastika good luck postcard
Order a blue terra horseshoe plaque from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
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copyright © 1995-2003 catherine yronwode. All rights reserved.
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