300 – Floats with coins
- Physical description:
- Two cork net floats with coins inserted into their edges.
- Museum classification:
- Sea Witchcraft
- Size:
- 180mm x 130mm and 80mm x 180mm
- Information:
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Sea witch stimulated charms, spells, superstitions etc., are numerous, one line of belief being that it was necessary to offer to pay the sea gods or sea spirits for the fish that you took out of the sea. To do this a silver coin was inserted into a cut made in the edge of a cork net float. Should the silver coin fall out in the course of fishing, well the sea spirit had taken its payment. But if the coin remained firmly in place the gods had no need of your money and were not offended. If not of silver then the coin must be multi-holed as in the example seen here. The red pin marks the place where a silver threepenny piece has been inserted in the cork float. From Mevagissey, Connie Puckey.'Related to document 8180.
- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Metal, cork, rope
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Sea witch stimulated charms, spells, superstitions etc., are numerous, one line of belief being that it was necessary to offer to pay the sea gods or sea spirits for the fish that you took out of the sea. To do this a silver coin was inserted into a cut made in the edge of a cork net float. Should the silver coin fall out in the course of fishing, well the sea spirit had taken its payment. But if the coin remained firmly in place the gods had no need of your money and were not offended. If not of silver then the coin must be multi-holed as in the example seen here. The red pin marks the place where a silver threepenny piece has been inserted in the cork float. From Mevagissey, Connie Puckey.'
Related to document 8180.