Amuletsthe gallery← amulets.guru
Medieval & Early Modern Europe · c. 800 – 1800

Breverl & paper blessings

Meaning

A Breverl is a small packet of folded paper printed with saints, crosses, the Benedict and Zacharias blessings and pilgrimage images, often holding seeds, relics and herbs, and wrapped in embroidered cloth. Schluckbildchen are tiny printed saints meant to be swallowed, and a Himmelsbrief is a 'letter from heaven' promising protection.

Intent

They protected against storms, fire, witchcraft, illness, bullets and every kind of harm, carried on the person, sewn into clothing or kept in the house and stable. Schluckbildchen were swallowed or fed to animals as medicine.

Significance

Breverl are the most complex paper amulets of Europe and show the Counter-Reformation boom in popular devotional printing. Soldiers carried Himmelsbriefe into the First World War.

History

Breverl were made in Catholic southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland from the 17th to 19th centuries, often at pilgrimage sites and monasteries. Schluckbildchen were printed at shrines like Mariazell and Altötting into the 20th century.

Making yours
A 4×5 cm packet folded from a 30×40 cm printed sheet of woodcut saints, wrapped in silk with gold thread and a window.
Medieval & Early Modern Europe: the tradition

Medieval Europe held two protective systems at once: the Church's sacramentals (relics, blessed wax, saints' medals, written prayers) and an older 'natural magic' of stones, herbs and animal parts inherited from Pliny and the lapidaries of Marbode of Rennes (c. 1090) and Albertus Magnus. Pilgrimage produced millions of cheap lead badges. Renaissance courts wore toadstones and bezoars set in gold, and Protestant reformers attacked both relics and charms. In Catholic Bavaria, Austria, Italy and Spain the folk tradition survived into the 20th century, recorded by collectors like Leopold Kriss-Rettenbeck and Rudolf Kriss, whose collections are now in Munich, and by Walter Hildburgh, who gave thousands of Spanish and Italian amulets to the V&A.

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Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.Germany · 1631Breverl a ferences rend áhítatának kedvelt kultuszképeivelBreverl a ferences rend áhítatának kedvelt kultuszképeivelHungaryBreverl amulet from GermanyBreverl amulet from GermanyGermanyKurfürst Friedrich [II.], Markgraf von Brandenburg, stellt dem Kloster Neuzelle einen Schutzbrief aus. "gebin zu Cotbuß am fritage sant Nicclaus tage, nach Gotes gebort vierzenhundert jar und darnach Kurfürst Friedrich [II.], Markgraf von Brandenburg, stellt dem Kloster Neuzelle einen Schutzbrief aus. "gebin zu Cotbuß am fritage sant Nicclaus tage, nach Gotes gebort vierzenhundert jar und darnach GermanyBreverlBreverlAustriaBreverl, on one side the letters IHS.Breverl, on one side the letters IHS.United KingdomM0016851: Contents of a breverl showing the emblems of various saintsM0016851: Contents of a breverl showing the emblems of various saintsBreverl, on one side the letters IHS.Breverl, on one side the letters IHS.Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.GermanyAmulettcédulákat, kegytárgyakat tartalmazó breverl jezsuita címeres réz tokbanAmulettcédulákat, kegytárgyakat tartalmazó breverl jezsuita címeres réz tokbanHungaryBreverl; Wallfahrtsandenken zu Personen- und HausschutzBreverl; Wallfahrtsandenken zu Personen- und HausschutzGermanyKurfürst Georg Wilhelm, Markgraf von Brandenburg, erteilt den Ratsmitgliedern der Stadt Rathenow einen Schutzbrief und befreit sie von militärischen Einquartierungen.Kurfürst Georg Wilhelm, Markgraf von Brandenburg, erteilt den Ratsmitgliedern der Stadt Rathenow einen Schutzbrief und befreit sie von militärischen Einquartierungen.GermanyContents of a Breverl, showing the emblems of various Saints.Contents of a Breverl, showing the emblems of various Saints.United KingdomBreverl, on one side the letters IHS.Breverl, on one side the letters IHS.Devotional folded Book Amulet or Breverl, Women of the Book CollectionDevotional folded Book Amulet or Breverl, Women of the Book CollectionSchutzbrief, 1 Bl.Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.GermanyBreverl a ferences rend áhítatának kedvelt kultuszképeivelBreverl a ferences rend áhítatának kedvelt kultuszképeivelHungarySchutzbrief in Zigarrenbehälter (Messing)Schutzbrief in Zigarrenbehälter (Messing)GermanyMeinke von Schierstedt, Hauptmann des Erzstifts Magdeburg, erteilt den altmärkischen Städten und Landen einen Schutzbrief.Meinke von Schierstedt, Hauptmann des Erzstifts Magdeburg, erteilt den altmärkischen Städten und Landen einen Schutzbrief.GermanyContents of a Breverl, showing the emblems of various Saints.Contents of a Breverl, showing the emblems of various Saints.Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.Schutzbrief, 1 Bl.GermanyKihajtogatott breverl keretben, amulettcédulákkal és ereklyeegyüttesselKihajtogatott breverl keretben, amulettcédulákkal és ereklyeegyüttesselHungarySchutzbrief Kurfürst Ernst von Sachsen für seinen Oheim Herzog Johann von Sagan zu Priebus. Da nach König Georgs Tod Irrungen in Böhmen entstanden seien, habe sein Oheim sich in sächsischen Schutz begSchutzbrief Kurfürst Ernst von Sachsen für seinen Oheim Herzog Johann von Sagan zu Priebus. Da nach König Georgs Tod Irrungen in Böhmen entstanden seien, habe sein Oheim sich in sächsischen Schutz begGermanySchutzbrief, 2 Bl.Schutzbrief, 2 Bl.Germany

More from Medieval & Early Modern Europe: Pilgrim badges · Reliquary pendants & devotional lockets · Agnus Dei waxes · Magic & inscribed rings · Natural magic: toadstones, bezoars, serpent tongues · Fraisenketten & Charivari (charm chains) · Coral teething rattles & child charms · Coral amulets · Wax & metal votive offerings · Saints’ medals & protective crosses · Other & unsorted Medieval
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Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.