364 – Amber
- Physical description:
- Two large rough pieces of amber.
- Museum classification:
- Working Tools
- Size:
- 50 mm diam
- Information:
Beloved of witches, amber has been used as a healing stone for centuries. It is particularly effective for chest complaints and can be used as a touchstone for stroking magic. It is full of spirit force and if it likes you the spirit within will let you know and always stay close to you. (Adapted from text by Cecil Williamson.)The Lovett Collection in the Cuming Museum includes an amber necklace that, according to Edward Lovett, was worn as an amulet for good health.
Scarborough Museum has an amber heart (collected in 1913) made and worn by Suffolk fishermen as a cure for rheumatism (information provided by Tabitha Cadbury - see her report 'The Clarke Collection of Charms and Amulets' in the museum library).
The Horniman Museum has a small piece of rough amber, collected by Edward Lovett in Suffolk, which was carried by fishermen as a charm against rheumatism.
A chapter by Hugh Cheape in the book 'Witchcraft and Belief in Early Modern Scotland' (ed. Julian Goodare et al.) (there is a copy in the museum library) includes a photograph of a string of amber beads used as an amulet. It originally belonged to the Murray Threapland family of Fingask in Perthshire, but is now in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland. According to Hugh Cheape's caption, 'lammer beads', as they were known, were highly valued amulets, particularly in fishing communities.- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Amber
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.
Beloved of witches, amber has been used as a healing stone for centuries. It is particularly effective for chest complaints and can be used as a touchstone for stroking magic. It is full of spirit force and if it likes you the spirit within will let you know and always stay close to you. (Adapted from text by Cecil Williamson.)The Lovett Collection in the Cuming Museum includes an amber necklace that, according to Edward Lovett, was worn as an amulet for good health.
Scarborough Museum has an amber heart (collected in 1913) made and worn by Suffolk fishermen as a cure for rheumatism (information provided by Tabitha Cadbury - see her report 'The Clarke Collection of Charms and Amulets' in the museum library).
The Horniman Museum has a small piece of rough amber, collected by Edward Lovett in Suffolk, which was carried by fishermen as a charm against rheumatism.
A chapter by Hugh Cheape in the book 'Witchcraft and Belief in Early Modern Scotland' (ed. Julian Goodare et al.) (there is a copy in the museum library) includes a photograph of a string of amber beads used as an amulet. It originally belonged to the Murray Threapland family of Fingask in Perthshire, but is now in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland. According to Hugh Cheape's caption, 'lammer beads', as they were known, were highly valued amulets, particularly in fishing communities.