188 – Dried frog

Physical description:
Dried frog
Museum classification:
Spells & charms
Size:
125 x 100 mm (pouch - now lost) frog 75 mm long
Information:

'Witch's charm bag containing a dried out dead frog. This poor little chap was known as Ben and for many years was the claimed spirit guide of a Mrs Sarah Noakes of Crewkerne, circa 1922.''(Text by Cecil Williamson)

The bag was destroyed in the 2004 Boscastle flood. It appears from old photographs that it was a drawstring bag made from plain cream fabric.


Scarborough Museum has two toads (apparently thought to be "male frogs") which were hung up in bags (one made of checked grey-blue fabric, the other made of very pretty fabric with a leaf design) in cottages in Devonshire in the early 20th century to keep out witches. (Information supplied by Tabitha Cadbury - see her report 'The Clarke Collection of Charms and Amulets' in the museum library.)

Resource:
Object
Materials:
Animal,
Copyright ownership:
Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.

'Witch's charm bag containing a dried out dead frog. This poor little chap was known as Ben and for many years was the claimed spirit guide of a Mrs Sarah Noakes of Crewkerne, circa 1922.''(Text by Cecil Williamson)

The bag was destroyed in the 2004 Boscastle flood. It appears from old photographs that it was a drawstring bag made from plain cream fabric.


Scarborough Museum has two toads (apparently thought to be "male frogs") which were hung up in bags (one made of checked grey-blue fabric, the other made of very pretty fabric with a leaf design) in cottages in Devonshire in the early 20th century to keep out witches. (Information supplied by Tabitha Cadbury - see her report 'The Clarke Collection of Charms and Amulets' in the museum library.)