21 – Ill wishing hairy hand curse
- Physical description:
- Piece of animahide in shape of right hand. Needle with red thread embedded in palm of hand.
- Museum classification:
- Curses
- Size:
- 225x165x10
- Information:
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'The human hand has a vast store of symbolic meaning - and so time and time again one finds the west country witch making use of the hand form in her magic making - from hand prints to the use of hairy hands, these hands covered in hair or fur are called the devil's hand. Red is used as a symbol of blood and the thread represents the veins. The needle is sharp and pricks, hence the pain of arthritis. So this is an ill wishing pinpricking object.'
- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Animal hide
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'The human hand has a vast store of symbolic meaning - and so time and time again one finds the west country witch making use of the hand form in her magic making - from hand prints to the use of hairy hands, these hands covered in hair or fur are called the devil's hand. Red is used as a symbol of blood and the thread represents the veins. The needle is sharp and pricks, hence the pain of arthritis. So this is an ill wishing pinpricking object.'