221 – Witch bottle Bellarmine Jar

Physical description:
17th century brown glazed jar with a face on the side, of the type known as a Bellarmine jar used as a witch bottle a charm to reverse an attack by witchcraft.
Museum classification:
Curses
Size:
150x130x130
Information:

A pitcher type jar with bearded man's face when found this jar was fitted with a wood bung stopper and sealed with wax. When opened it contained some stinking black liquid and a quantity of sludge. This mess was originally human hair and urine. Found concealed in a table tomb close to Exeter cathedral, 1950. From original text by Cecil Williamson.


Judging by its construction and materials, this may be early-mid twentieth century, and its concealment part of a rediscovery of folk magic practice in the modern world.

 

This was on loan to the Ashmolean Museum for their Spellbound exhibition, 6 September 2018 - 6 January 2019

See also MWM id no 14.

 

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

A pitcher type jar with bearded man's face when found this jar was fitted with a wood bung stopper and sealed with wax. When opened it contained some stinking black liquid and a quantity of sludge. This mess was originally human hair and urine. Found concealed in a table tomb close to Exeter cathedral, 1950. From original text by Cecil Williamson.


Judging by its construction and materials, this may be early-mid twentieth century, and its concealment part of a rediscovery of folk magic practice in the modern world.

 

This was on loan to the Ashmolean Museum for their Spellbound exhibition, 6 September 2018 - 6 January 2019

See also MWM id no 14.