History of The Ebony Amulet

Out of chaos is born the need for something greater than ones self to believe in. Man is driven by visual impact. It was only natural that he fashioned ebony amulets to depict forces greater than himself and assign special powers to the amulet image.

An amulet is a sculpted symbol representing a power of nature, the paranormal, heaven, or hell. The belief is that an amulet channels this unseen energy to the body of the person wearing it. Indigenous peoples all over the world have an amulet history. It is the oldest form of adornment.

It is accepted that man originated in Africa. Africa is also the home of ebony trees of the genus Diospyros. Ebony is a very heavy dense wood that is naturally dark and long lasting. Although it is a very hard wood, it is still easier to carve than stone.

Man could easily carry his piece with him on his search for food and water. Working on an amulet after a meal or before bedtime allowed man to ponder the force he wished to gain and depict.

Common depictions included various cross forms. Sun, wind, fire, and water channeled to earth to provide man’s needs. The lightning bolt stood for the great force that brought the land nourishing rains. The sun warmed the earth and made plants grow. A male figure could have been a great hunter. An animal could have been life saving food.

When man first evolved life was chaos. No wonder he put the belief of powers behind his tangible ebony amulet and cherished his creation.