2962 – Curse Poppet

Physical description:

A rather elaborate cursing poppet, made from strips of fabric (crepe bandage) bound with string, and painted brown and red. The string is tied in a knot over where the mouth would be. A folded leaf is attached to the front of the poppet, and also a bunch of long stiff black threads which seem likely to be horse hair. Small pieces of wood whittled into miniature stakes are driven into one eye, one shoulder, the heart and the groin.

Museum classification:

Cursing / Protection

Size:

240 x 120 x 100

Information:

Formed part of a private collection that included two cock pheasant wings (2963) and three bird claws (2964).

This object appeared for sale on Etsy before finding its way to an auction in Callington in Cornwall. Although it has been very elaborately made, it seems likely that it was created as a generic representation of a cursing poppet rather than as an actual curse.

 

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Fabric, wood etc

Copyright ownership:

MWM

Formed part of a private collection that included two cock pheasant wings (2963) and three bird claws (2964).

This object appeared for sale on Etsy before finding its way to an auction in Callington in Cornwall. Although it has been very elaborately made, it seems likely that it was created as a generic representation of a cursing poppet rather than as an actual curse.