1437 – Two-Headed Piglet

Physical description:

Two-headed piglet preserved in jar.

Museum classification:

Working Tools

Size:

300 x 170

Information:

CWOLC 7307 reads:

"There is a widespread and age old belief, among country-living people that any freak of nature is something special, that is it a sign to be taken notice of, not highly to be disregarded, that the spirit world is drawing attention to and making itself felt. Here we have a two headed pig. Pigs have always been considered to be an animal blessed with luck, hence the gambler's reason for carrying a lucky pig charm. Also the reason for lucky pig childrens sic money boxes. There is a vast folklore built-up around pig good luck symbolism so if a pig is lucky - Waugh Then a two headed pig must be really something - and it is.. This little fellow must have been worth its weight in silver to the wise woman who was shrewed sic and quick enough to get and preserve it. It has been passed on down from one charmer to another. The last in the chain being a Mrs Ethel Cannon. Lovingly nick-named Bang-Bang of Witchurch."

Mentioned in Doreen Valiente's description of the exhibits at Cecil Williamson's 'House of Spells' at Polperro (Transcripts from Doreen Valiente's Diaries 1959-1966, in the museum library (133.43 VAL), pp.29-34). A visitor to the museum also remembers seeing it at Bourton-on-the-Water. According to one of Cecil Williamson's texts, the unfortunate piglet was born after its mother bit a local wise woman and was cursed by her.

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Organic

Copyright ownership:

Treetrunk Ltd

CWOLC 7307 reads:

"There is a widespread and age old belief, among country-living people that any freak of nature is something special, that is it a sign to be taken notice of, not highly to be disregarded, that the spirit world is drawing attention to and making itself felt. Here we have a two headed pig. Pigs have always been considered to be an animal blessed with luck, hence the gambler's reason for carrying a lucky pig charm. Also the reason for lucky pig childrens sic money boxes. There is a vast folklore built-up around pig good luck symbolism so if a pig is lucky - Waugh Then a two headed pig must be really something - and it is.. This little fellow must have been worth its weight in silver to the wise woman who was shrewed sic and quick enough to get and preserve it. It has been passed on down from one charmer to another. The last in the chain being a Mrs Ethel Cannon. Lovingly nick-named Bang-Bang of Witchurch."

Mentioned in Doreen Valiente's description of the exhibits at Cecil Williamson's 'House of Spells' at Polperro (Transcripts from Doreen Valiente's Diaries 1959-1966, in the museum library (133.43 VAL), pp.29-34). A visitor to the museum also remembers seeing it at Bourton-on-the-Water. According to one of Cecil Williamson's texts, the unfortunate piglet was born after its mother bit a local wise woman and was cursed by her.