857 – Floral Decorated Dark Mirror

Physical description:

Fine, large Dark Mirror, with colourful frame carved with leaves, fruit, etc. Originally owned by Cecil Williamson.

Museum classification:

Divination

Size:

600 x 450 x 70 mm

Information:

Dark mirrors are used by witches as tools to help them see or contact spirits.
This dark mirror was once owned and used by Cecil Williamson, the late owner of the museum. The mirror was not part of his museum collection, it was the one he personally used. We found it in his private study set up on an easel ready for use; also in this area were the large crystal ball and several other magical items that were obviously very special to him.
The British Museum has an Aztec obsidian dark mirror that was acquired and used by John Dee, and the Science Museum has a convex dark mirror (referred to as a 'Claude glass') thought to have belonged to him.

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Glass, wood

Copyright ownership:

MWM

Dark mirrors are used by witches as tools to help them see or contact spirits.
This dark mirror was once owned and used by Cecil Williamson, the late owner of the museum. The mirror was not part of his museum collection, it was the one he personally used. We found it in his private study set up on an easel ready for use; also in this area were the large crystal ball and several other magical items that were obviously very special to him.
The British Museum has an Aztec obsidian dark mirror that was acquired and used by John Dee, and the Science Museum has a convex dark mirror (referred to as a 'Claude glass') thought to have belonged to him.