4098 – Poppet of Vicar

Physical description:: A wax poppet, apparently of a vicar, dressed in black fabric clothing and with human hair attached to the head, and pierced with a large number of pins. The poppet is lying on a stylised couch inside a glass-fronted box, with a painted backdrop showing a church. From East Sussex. Early 20th century.
Museum classification:: Curses
Size:: 195 x 270 x 95
Information:: Purchased by the Museum's Director from an antique shop about 20 years ago (i.e. c. 2000). The sellers suggested that it was from Battle, and Victorian, although a slightly later date of c. 1920 seems more likely. The Museum's Director has tried and failed to identify the church depicted in the painting attached to the back of the box.
Resource:: Object
Materials:: Wax, fabric, hair, metal, paper, wood, glass
Copyright ownership:: MWM

2962 – Curse Poppet

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.

1353 – Photograph – Curse

Black and white photograph of a naked young woman (Cait Sidhe) staring out through the window of an old building, and sticking a long pin into the stomach of a doll.

4093 – Humorous Poppet

A white fabric doll with ten white-headed pins, and writing in black on the doll indicating the various humorously unpleasant things the user can wish on their enemy. A label suggests fixing a photograph to the head. Boxed in a black and purple box.