2982 – Poppet: Curse

Physical description:

A child's baby doll disfigured with ink, particularly round one eye and the mouth, apparently for use as a cursing poppet.

Museum classification:

Curses

Size:

230 x 90 x 60

Information:

Found on a fire escape at the Arts University Bournemouth.

This was one of the objects loaned to the Vertigo Syndrome Exhibition in Milan in 2024.

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Plastic, fabric

Found on a fire escape at the Arts University Bournemouth.

This was one of the objects loaned to the Vertigo Syndrome Exhibition in Milan in 2024.

2983 – Poppet: Curse

A Barbie doll disfigured with ink, and with a safety pin through her face, apparently to turn her into a cursing poppet.

Saddam Huseein "You do" Voodoo Doll

3307 Curse Doll: Saddam Hussein

Stuffed doll representing Saddam Hussein, in cardboard and plastic packaging calling him "The Beast of Baghdad." Intended for 'cursing' him.

A rather elaborate cursing poppet, made from strips of fabric (crepe bandage) bound with string, and painted brown and red. The string is tied in a knot over where the mouth would be. A folded leaf is attached to the front of the poppet, and also a bunch of long stiff black threads which seem likely to be horse hair. Small pieces of wood whittled into miniature stakes are driven into one eye, one shoulder, the heart and the groin.