Papercut "Shir Hama'alosl" - Eastern Europe

Papercut "Shir Hama'alosl" - Eastern Europe
Papercut, Amulet for protection for the mother and baby. East Europe, [19th century].
Watercolor on paper.
This amulet belongs to a known type of amulets called "Shir Hama'alosl" or kimpertbrivel which means in Yiddish "letter for the childbed". In the center of these amulets appears Psalm 121 which opens with the words "Shir Hamaalot", and thus the name. The amulets were hung on the wall over the mother's bed or the baby's crib. The background of this amulet is floral lattice, with birds and a Star of David in brown, yellow and light blue. The Psalm is written on a reversed triangle with birds on each side. There are standard magic formulas written on the amulet to protect the nursing mother and newborn baby.
17x21 cm., stains on paper, a quarter of the frame and part of the floral decoration is missing. 30X27.5 cm. frame.