272 – Caul
- Physical description:
- Caul from a baby, fisherman's good luck charm.
- Museum classification:
- Sea Witchcraft
- Size:
- 100mm diam.
- Information:
- Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'This is a child's caul - perhaps one of the most prized amulets of any fisherman in the days of sail. The belief being that anyone who was fortunate to possess one and to keep it about his person, then he would never suffer death from drowning. These cauls are obtained at childbirth when the baby's head is enveloped in a membrane envelope. Wise women midwife-cum-witch, such persons were in an ideal position to gain possession of such sought after trifles - for which they could demand and get high prices. Even today there is still a steady demand for cauls. This one was obtained from a family in Lyme Regis. It belonged to their fisherman grandfather.'
- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Organic
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd. Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'This is a child's caul - perhaps one of the most prized amulets of any fisherman in the days of sail. The belief being that anyone who was fortunate to possess one and to keep it about his person, then he would never suffer death from drowning. These cauls are obtained at childbirth when the baby's head is enveloped in a membrane envelope. Wise women midwife-cum-witch, such persons were in an ideal position to gain possession of such sought after trifles - for which they could demand and get high prices. Even today there is still a steady demand for cauls. This one was obtained from a family in Lyme Regis. It belonged to their fisherman grandfather.'