1419 – Athame – hand forged
- Physical description:
- Simple hand-forged athame, with polished wood handle with no guard.
- Museum classification:
- Working Tools
- Size:
- c 300 mm long
- Information:
Companion to 329.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'In west country witchcraft daggers and knives are to be found. But they must, and this is essential, be hand made by the witch herself or a direct blood relative of not more than three generations removed. Heating, beating out, forging and forming your own weapon is no mean task for any woman. The reason for this do-it-yourself procedure was that the witch formed and forged the blade to serve and protect her alone. These two examples of the witch's craftsmanship may appear crude, but they each have an uncanny and strange feel to them. Certainly a weapon not to be trusted or used by a stranger.'- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Iron, wood
Companion to 329.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'In west country witchcraft daggers and knives are to be found. But they must, and this is essential, be hand made by the witch herself or a direct blood relative of not more than three generations removed. Heating, beating out, forging and forming your own weapon is no mean task for any woman. The reason for this do-it-yourself procedure was that the witch formed and forged the blade to serve and protect her alone. These two examples of the witch's craftsmanship may appear crude, but they each have an uncanny and strange feel to them. Certainly a weapon not to be trusted or used by a stranger.'