Witchcraft and demonic beliefs have a long and complex history in human culture. Across different societies and time periods, the idea of witches and their association with the supernatural has played a significant role in shaping religious, legal, and societal norms. In medieval Europe, for example, the belief in witchcraft was widespread and deeply rooted in Christian theology. The Christian Church viewed witches as individuals who had made a pact with the devil, granting them the power to harness demonic forces and perform malevolent actions. This perception led to widespread fear and suspicion, resulting in the infamous witch hunts and trials that claimed countless lives. The idea of witchcraft and demonic influence was not limited to Europe.
The idea of witchcraft and demonic influence was not limited to Europe. In various indigenous cultures, witchcraft was often associated with indigenous spiritual practices and beliefs. For example, among the Aztecs and Mayans of ancient Mesoamerica, there was a strong belief in the power of sorcery and witchcraft.
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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About Author
People believed that witches were capable of communicating with supernatural entities and casting spells that could bring harm or benefit. In African societies, witchcraft was also a deeply ingrained belief system. Witch doctors or shamans were considered powerful figures who could harness supernatural powers to heal, protect, or harm others. This belief system often coexisted with traditional animistic practices and was deeply intertwined with cultural and social institutions. Throughout history, the fear of witchcraft has led to the persecution and marginalization of individuals deemed to be witches. In many cases, innocent people, particularly women, were accused of practicing witchcraft and subjected to torture, public humiliation, and execution. The witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts in the late 17th century, for example, saw the execution of 20 people accused of witchcraft. Despite the irrationality and injustice of such beliefs and actions, the fear of witchcraft and demonic influence persisted for centuries. It was not until the Enlightenment and the rise of rationalism that such beliefs began to diminish. The understanding of natural phenomena through scientific inquiry gradually replaced supernatural explanations, leading to a decline in the belief in witches and demonic forces. Nonetheless, witchcraft and demonic beliefs continue to exist in some parts of the world today. In certain societies, traditional practices involving witchcraft and sorcery are still prevalent, often intertwined with cultural and religious traditions. It is important to understand the historical context and cultural complexities surrounding witchcraft and demonic beliefs in order to appreciate their impact on human civilization..
Reviews for "Witchcraft and Colonialism: The Demonization of Indigenous Practices"
1. Sarah Woods - 1 star:
I found this book to be extremely biased and sensationalized. It focuses solely on the negative aspects of witchcraft and demonic beliefs, without taking into consideration the historical and cultural context in which they existed. The author fails to acknowledge the fear, ignorance, and prejudice that fueled the persecution of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft. Additionally, the book lacks a balanced and objective perspective, relying instead on outdated and disproven theories. Overall, I was disappointed by the narrow-minded approach of the author and would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of witchcraft and demonic beliefs in the past.
2. Michael Thompson - 2 stars:
While this book provides an overview of witchcraft and demonic beliefs in the past, I found it to be lacking in depth and analysis. The author seems to approach the subject matter with a preconceived bias against these practices, which is evident in the dismissive and judgmental tone used throughout the book. I would have liked to see a more objective exploration of the historical and cultural significance of witchcraft, rather than a one-sided condemnation. Additionally, the lack of scholarly sources and references makes it difficult to evaluate the accuracy and validity of the information presented. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and would recommend seeking alternative sources for a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3. Emily Turner - 2 stars:
While the topic of witchcraft and demonic beliefs in the past is intriguing, this book failed to captivate my interest. The author's writing style is dry and academic, making it difficult to engage with the subject matter. Additionally, the book focuses too heavily on the negative aspects of witchcraft and demonology, without providing a well-rounded examination of the beliefs, practices, and cultural significance surrounding these topics. I was hoping for a more engaging and balanced exploration of the subject, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. I would recommend looking for alternative sources that offer a more accessible and thorough examination of witchcraft and demonic beliefs in history.