Witch balls have a fascinating history that spans several centuries. These decorative glass ornaments were believed to have protective and magical properties. The origins of witch balls can be traced back to the 17th century in England. During this time, witchcraft and witch hunts were prevalent. It was believed that witches had the ability to enter people's homes and cause harm. To prevent this, people would hang witch balls in their windows or place them near the entrance of their homes.

witch ball

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witch ball, a hollow glass sphere, sometimes as large as 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. Witch balls are made in several colours, among which green and blue predominate. Its name is possibly a corruption of the 18th-century term watch ball.

References to witch balls are found from the 18th century onward, but their origin is probably older. In England many examples, striped and spattered with enamel colours, have been attributed to the Nailsea works near Bristol; but they were also made elsewhere in England and, from the 19th century, in the United States. Having some kinship with the glass balls used by fishermen to float their nets, witch balls have been associated with sea superstitions; it has also been suggested that they were originally hung in windows to ward off misfortune. It seems likely, however, that those that are silvered inside, made from the mid-19th century onward, were hung up for their reflective qualities; they could reflect a whole room in the manner of a convex mirror. They are sought after as curios, and modern examples are still made.

The History And Mystery Of Witch Balls

Witch Balls are popular gifts for Halloween - perfect for those souls seeking protection against roaming spirits, as well as those who simply prefer more attractive, authentic decoration than plastic pumpkins, spiders and skeletons!

Also called Spirit Balls, they make stunning keepsakes for people who like more unusual gifts at any time of the year. With their origins lost in time and their rumoured magical powers, these beautiful hand crafted glass spheres are treasured for many reasons.

So what do we really know about the history and mystery of Witch Balls?

1. Unknown origins

Well firstly, we don't know when the first Witch Balls were made. Some say they were brought to Britain by the Crusaders whereas others believe they originated here. According to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Cornwall, "wondrous devices" of a similar description were being used in the sixteenth century. Later on, coloured glass ornaments known as "spheres of light" were often hung from garden arches to catch the sunshine.

2. Fishermen's friends

There are different versions of how Witch Balls acquired their name, two of which relate to superstitious fishermen and the glass balls they use to keep fishing nets afloat at sea. One is that their families hung some of the balls in their windows to act as "watch" balls, protecting the fishermen from evil spirits and harm at sea, and this name became corrupted to Witch Balls.

Another comes from the horrific "witch trials" of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in which a suspected witch would otten be tied up and thrown into water. If she floated, she was guilty and if she sank (and probably drowned), she was innocent! The floating on water connection was made with the fishing balls and again the name changed over time.

3. Protection against evil

If Witch Balls are specifically being used to protect against evil spirits and to watch over a property - for example at Halloween - they're described as apotropaic (they repel misfortune). This is different from using a talisman, which is worn to attract good luck, although the end result may be similar!

They have shards of glass or decorative patterns inside (sometimes wool or threads in older ones) to attract evil spirits - hence their alternative name of Spirit Balls - which then get entangled and trapped inside and so are unable to harm the occupants of the house.

4. Predicting the future

People have also used Witch Balls in a similar way to crystal balls, for scrying or divining the future. If the Witch Ball became cloudy, it would foretell someone's death. As above, other objects could also be used as alternative divination objects, depending on what the fortune teller had to hand and perhaps how confident they felt!

5. Location, location, location

As Witch Balls became more popular over time, many of the glass makers would keep the first ball they produced when they set up shop. They believed that if they hung it inside the shop, it would bring them success and happiness. Some were made with a shiny, silvery inside which could reflect the rest of the room, like a mirror, so making it easier to "watch" and see around corners. Practical as well as protective!

Some of the strangest places Witch Balls have been found include a church in Cornwall and another in Jerusalem. Here's how one of our customers who ran a pub in Kent displayed his Peach Perfect Witch Balls.

Many people nowadays are attracted to Witch Balls solely for their striking yet delicate beauty, glowing in the faintest glimmer of sunlight. But knowing a little bit more about their mystery and history can only add to their timeless allure.

If you're looking for an enchanting gift for a friend, or a treat for yourself to hang in a window at home, take a peek at our stunning Witch Balls and Large Spirit Balls in our Crystal & Spiritual Gifts Collection. There's still time to order before Halloween comes creeping round the corner!

The science of witchcraft

Do you believe in witchcraft? Some people might be scared to reveal the secrets of occult objects, but not us! Find out what we’ve discovered about one of the most intriguing treasures in our collection…

I will never forget my first encounter with a witch’s ball. I was cataloguing and documenting the collection at Historic Environment Scotland when I came across it. I soon developed a fascination for the green glass sphere that looked like a big Christmas bauble.

Careful you don’t drop it! Chiara examines the Witch’s Ball in the HES collection.

The copper alloy fitting and loop on top of it served the purpose of hanging it, but not onto trees! Objects of this kind are usually associated with dark magic and have been used for the protection of the household since the 17th century. The superstition and general practice consists in hanging them next to the windows to ward off evil spirits. But what is the meaning of this tradition and where does it come from?

The origins of witch’s balls

There is more than one answer to this question as witch’s balls have served many different purposes over time. However, their popularity as apotropaic* objects begins in the 17th century, runs through the 18th and 19th century and it is still very much alive today.

(* We had to look it up too! Apotropaic refers to an object supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck.)

1: A Fisher Wives’ Superstition

The belief is likely to originate in the fishermen communities. Sailors’ wives hung a glass float in a window in the hope that it would protect their husbands at sea.

It is possible that the connotation with witchcraft derives from the late 17th century witch trials. It is possible that the connotation with witchcraft derives from the late 17th century witch trials. In some European countries there was a practice of trying suspected witches by binding their arms and legs and throwing them into water. If the woman floated, she was a witch. By resemblance, the hallow glass buoys attached to the edges of fishing nets to keep them afloat have been associated with witchcraft trials. Although ‘ducking’ wasn’t a common practice in Scotland, people in Scotland may well have been aware of the superstitious link between buoyancy and witchcraft.

Many maritime museums have witch’s balls in their collections. When strolling through fishermen villages it is still possible to see glass baubles hanging in cottages windows.

Pittenweem is a typical Scottish fishing village. Wives here may have used glass floats as good luck charms.

2: Witch’s Bottles

The practice of using stoneware bottles for the protection of the household dates to the 17th century. Witch’s bottles were usually buried at the entrance of the house and were filled with contents of various nature. Iron pins or nails, human hair, bones, thorns, pieces of wood, fabric and urine were all typical components. These ingredients acted as spells or counter-spell against witchcraft.

3: Watch Balls

In the early 18th century, pretty toys were hung up in nurseries to catch a child’s eye. These were called ‘watch balls’ and were possibly intended for the protection of children from malevolent spirits. With time, their name was corrupted into witch ball. This caused immediate association of these toys with superstitions of witches and evil eye.

Our witch’s ball

How did the witch’s ball come to be in the HES collection?

Some investigation reveals its provenance. We know that the object was first recorded as part of a collection assembled by Jane (1860 – 1937) and Louisa (1858 – 1949) Macdonald , who were prominent figures in the town of Arbroath. The sisters helped to establish a local history museum in the Abbot’s House at Arbroath Abbey.

Of the two sisters, it was Jane who was most devoted to the museum at the Abbot’s house. Her obituary paints a picture of a woman who “possessed a vivid personality, joined with a cultured mind and a wide outlook.” She was a well-known personality in Angus and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries Scotland. Her knowledge of antiquarian subjects was vital when it came to piecing together the collection at the Abbott’s House, where she was in charge of making decisions about which objects should be included.

The Abbot’s House at Arbroath Abbey. The Macdonald sisters donated their collection to the museum here.

After Jane’s passing in 1937, this collection was donated to Abbot’s House by her younger sister Louisa MacDonald. The Abbot’s House had been acquired by a predecessor of HES in 1924, and this is how the ball eventually came to be in our care.

However, there’s lots we still don’t know about this object. For instance, how old is it? Last December it was possible to establish the date of this object through analysis of the glass, for the first time. This is an important breakthrough in understanding the witch’s ball and its use.

Investigating the witch’s ball

Two members of staff within HES science team, Dr Maureen Young and Aurélie Turmel, carried out the analysis. They used a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. This technology permits to obtain information on the chemical composition of a range of materials without damaging the objects.

In this case, different calibration of the equipment was necessary to pick up the presence of both heavy and light elements. During the analysis it was also necessary to keep the object in its storage box because of its round shape.

Dr Maureen Young and Aurélie Turmel using xrf portable equipment to analyse the witch’s ball.

The range of components present in the glass permitted to assign a time of production for the witch’s ball. A peak in the presence of arsenic suggests that this object may be dated in-between 1835-1870.

However, the high level of pigmentation additives such as chromium, iron and copper strongly points to the 20th century as possible date of production.

Modern mystics

As a Victorian object, this witch’s ball was not only a magical object. It could also have been used in the dining room to help the service or in the front yard to see calling visitors. It is worth noticing that glass was an expensive material and a commodity in affluent homes at the time. Objects of this kind show superstitions of witches and evil eye were very much alive in the Victorian period. Witch’s balls had a steady market, being manufactured in many different sizes.

Alloa Glass work with staff showing their work in 1897. Witch’s balls of different sizes are among the many objects produced at the factory.
© Courtesy of The National Museums of Scotland.

As a 20th century object, this witch’s ball might have been simply used to decorate a house interior. But who knows what beliefs the owner might have held. Perhaps they still wanted protection from the evil eye.

Gazing into the witch’s ball

Although it’s not all that old, the witch’s ball is incredibly fragile so we keep this little piece of history tucked away safe in our collections. It’s not kept in storage because we’re scared of summoning something, honest!

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To prevent this, people would hang witch balls in their windows or place them near the entrance of their homes. The idea behind this was that the beautiful, reflective glass would distract and confuse any witches trying to enter. Furthermore, it was believed that if a witch did manage to enter a home, they would become entranced by their own reflection in the glass and be trapped inside the ball.

Chiara Montani

Chiara Montani trained and worked in Collections and Loans Management at HES for a period, taking a lead role in a project to catalogue, curate and digitise the HES numismatic collection. Her work has enabled recognition of this collection in the Money and Medals National Network and publish the collection online. Her research interests include the Stuart dynasty, the Jacobean history and the Victorian period with a particular attention to portraiture, fine art and material culture. View all posts by Chiara Montani

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Witch balls were typically made of blown glass and featured intricate designs and vibrant colors. They were often filled with strands of glass or other materials to create a mesmerizing effect. Originally, witch balls were quite expensive and were only found in the homes of the wealthy. However, as time went on, they became more accessible to the general public and could be found in homes of all social classes. In addition to their protective properties, witch balls also served a decorative purpose. Their vibrant colors and sparkling designs added beauty and charm to any space. They were often displayed in windows, where they would catch the light and create a dazzling display. While witch balls were primarily used in England, they eventually made their way to America during the colonial period. Here, they continued to be used as protective and decorative items. Today, witch balls are still popular among collectors and can be found in museums and private homes around the world. In conclusion, witch balls have a rich and storied history that dates back to the 17th century. These beautiful glass ornaments were believed to have protective properties against witches and added beauty to any space. Despite the passage of time, witch balls continue to captivate and intrigue people today..

Reviews for "The Enchantment of Witch Balls: From Witches to Home Protection"

1. Mark - 2/5 stars: I was really disappointed with "Witch balls history". The book was poorly researched and lacked a cohesive narrative. I expected to learn about the history of witch balls, but instead, the author went off on tangents and included irrelevant information. The writing style was also dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the history of witch balls.

2. Sarah - 1/5 stars: I had high hopes for "Witch balls history" but it turned out to be a complete letdown. The author seemed to spend more time promoting their personal beliefs and opinions than actually providing factual information. The book lacked depth and clarity, leaving me with more questions than answers. I was expecting a well-researched and informative read, but instead, I found myself frustrated and disappointed. Save your time and money and look for another book on the subject.

3. Brian - 2/5 stars: As someone who loves history, I was excited to dive into "Witch balls history". Unfortunately, the book did not fulfill my expectations. The author's biased approach was evident throughout, favoring a particular perspective and disregarding opposing viewpoints. Moreover, the writing was often repetitive, causing boredom and making it difficult to stay engaged. I would advise readers to seek alternative sources for accurate and unbiased information about the history of witch balls.

4. Emily - 2/5 stars: I found "Witch balls history" to be a confusing and poorly organized book. The author jumped from one topic to another without providing clear connections or explanations. The lack of structure made it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. Additionally, the book included numerous factual errors and inaccuracies, further diminishing its credibility. If you're looking for a comprehensive and well-written history of witch balls, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

Witch Balls: Ancient Superstitions or Powerful Protective Amulets?