Page 91 - All About History - Issue 70-18

Through History

This 17th century calf
CEREMONIAL SWORD BARN DOOR 17TH CENTURY shed door is from
Laxfield, Suffolk
LATE 16TH CENTURY Carved into this barn door are various hexafoil

Though this sword dates back to the 16th century, the rock markings, which were most likely intended
crystal reliquary in the handle actually dates back even to protect the barn against witchcraft. These
earlier. Rock crystal was popular because of the strong inscriptions were developed from the human need
belief in the power of natural materials and it could be to protect property and of course, a belief in magic.
used to hold relics since the sacred fragment inside could Apotropaic charms such as these markings were
be visible and would transmit its p we ection made in consultation with cunning folk, otherwise
wh
to the person wh his sword was ac ally a known as folk magicians, who would visit homes to
monial weapon and given as a gift for a be rothal or offer their advice. These charms usually consisted
marriage – as it is adorned with the Bourbon c at of arms, of geometrical shapes or religious monograms
was possibly a gift given to Princess Henriet Maria for carved into supports of the home, such as on the
her marriage to King Charles I of Englan beams or on lintels, to protect
them from witches.
Helen
This sword is decorated
with symbols
Duncan
concerning the longevity
SCOTTISH 1897-1956
and fidelity of love WITCH’S LADDER 19TH CENTURY
Medium and spiritualist Helen
Duncan was the last person to be This ‘Witch’s Ladder’ was found in the roof of
tried and imprisoned for witchcraft in a house in Somerset where, according to 19th
CORAL BROOC Britain. She is famous for claiming to be and 20th century articles, a purported witch
able to conjure up spirits and ectoplasm
600 800 from her body – which investigations lived. It was believed that this witch used it as
revealed was just props and a metaphorical ladder, perhaps to gain access to
is bright ral brooch depicts cheesecloth that she swallowed a house or to cast a curse on someone. However,
e Archan Michael defeating the and regurgitated for
her séances historians today believe that this object was
vil and is a owerful image of good
actually a sewel, a tool for driving deer. For years, it
iumphing ver evil. As coral was a natural
has been labelled as a ‘Witch’s Ladder’ at the Pitt Rivers
terial, was believed to protect against
Museum, because the curators at the time wanted to identify it,
rm, refore making it an ideal choice
provide an explanation and put it on display.
r this ooch. To have a lucky charm or This exact purpose of
this object remains
lism was not uncommon and in fact
unknown
This brooch ey sti persist to this day, as the belief
of Archangel that an object can offer the
Michael was
found in Italy owner confidence,
control and protection
can be physically and
mentally comforting.

POPPET 1909 1913 © Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford; Science Museum, London; Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

The use of poppets, small BULL’S HEART UNKNOWN
effigies believed to If an animal such as a cow or a sheep was believed to
bewitch the people have died as a result of
they represent, has witchcraft, then its heart This pierced bull’s
heart was found in a
long been associated This poppet was may have been cut out and chimney at Shutes Hill
with witchcraft. found in Exmouth, stuck with pins, needles or Farm, Somerset
Devon
This particular one is made even thorns. Afterwards, the
of stuffed fabric and is wearing heart would either be hung up to roast
an Edwardian style black dress, over a fire or placed inside a chimney,
with its head skewered by a where it could smoke and shrivel and
small stiletto dagger. Dolls like subsequently cause pain to the
this one were used to cause witch’s heart. This particular one
injury and death, with the idea is a bull’s heart that was pierced
that injuries made to the poppet with iron nails and thorns
would correspond to the person before it was smoked. Although
it symbolised. The practice of piercing poppets was deemed an act of For more
information,
sticking pins into a representative witchcraft, piercing animal hearts was visit
image or effigy was a common not considered in the same vein, since ashmolean.org
ritual of malevolent magic. it was intended to harm witches. now

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