Brazil Slide Series: Collection Salvador, Bahia, Slide No. 0067.

Creator

Herbert Knup
Jon M. Tolman
Siegfried Muhlhausser

Preview

Publication Date

3-2-2009

Description

Balanganda with various ornaments including a figa in the center. Colonial masters often presented their favorite women slaves with balangandas, a means of displaying their wealth. Balangandas were a collection of gold or silver ornaments strung on a thick metal ring which was attached to a chain and worn around the neck or tied at the waist. The ornaments included animals, parts of the human body, religious amulets, bells, suns or moons, each having a special significance. The figa (an image of a closed fist where the thumb is inserted between the index and middle fingers) was one of the more popular amulets and was believed to protect the user from the mau olhado (evil eye), human malice and jealousy. This charm is still widely used in Brazil today, and is made in all sizes of wood, stone or metal. The Baiana, for example, places a figa on her foodstand to ward off bad spirits (see Slide #68).Balangandã com vários ornamentos, incluindo a figa ao centro. Senhores coloniais muitas vezes presenteavam suas escravas favoritas com balangandãs, uma maneira de exibir sua riqueza. Os balangandãs são uma coleção de ornamentos de ouro e prata enfiados em um grosso anel de metal, preso a uma corrente e usado ao redor do pescoço ou amarrado na cintura. Os ornamentos incluíam animais, partes de corpo humano, amuletos religiosos, sinos, sóis ou luas, cada um com um significado especial. A figa (uma imagem de uma mão fechada onde o polegar está entre o indicador e o dedo médio) era um dos amuletos mais populares e acreditava-se que protegia o usuário do mau-olhado, de maldade humana e inveja. Este amuleto ainda é muito usado no Brasil hoje em dia e é feito de todos os tipos de madeira, pedra ou metal. A baiana, por exemplo, coloca a figa na sua banca de comida para proteger contra os maus espíritos (veja slide 68).

Publisher

Latin American and Iberian Institute / University of New Mexico

Rights

Brazil Slide Series Collection: This article is copyrighted by the Latin American & Iberian Institute (LAII) of the University of New Mexico. Rights permission is for standard academic, non-commercial, use of these materials. Proper citation of this material should include title, author, publisher, date, and URL. Copyright Latin American and Iberian Institute University of New Mexico 1988