850 – Fish bone

Physical description:
Part of skeleton of strange fish - probably skull and part of backbone, with a large spine. Vaguely resembles a crucifix.
Museum classification:
Sea Witchcraft
Size:
240 x 80 x 40 mm
Information:

Fishbone Resembling a Crucifix.
Natural objects with cross-shaped markings are often believed to bring good fortune or protection and used as talismans.
Scarborough Museum has two charms consisting of cross-shaped crystals of staurolite (yellowish-brown with silver patches) - one carried as a charm against illness and evil spirits, from Brittany (1912, originally part of Edward Lovett's collection), and one used as a good luck charm and labelled "Fairy Stone" from North Carolina (1932) (information provided by Tabitha Cadbury - see her report 'The Clarke Collection of Charms and Amulets' in the museum library).

Resource:
Object
Materials:
Bone

Fishbone Resembling a Crucifix.
Natural objects with cross-shaped markings are often believed to bring good fortune or protection and used as talismans.
Scarborough Museum has two charms consisting of cross-shaped crystals of staurolite (yellowish-brown with silver patches) - one carried as a charm against illness and evil spirits, from Brittany (1912, originally part of Edward Lovett's collection), and one used as a good luck charm and labelled "Fairy Stone" from North Carolina (1932) (information provided by Tabitha Cadbury - see her report 'The Clarke Collection of Charms and Amulets' in the museum library).