A large antique 19th century mercury glass witch ball

A beautiful thick hand blown silver mercury glass sphere with a lustrous mirror finish, circa 1890.

With its original pressed metal hanging crown and loop to allow the ball to be suspended.

This is a particularly large example, which are becoming harder to find.

Witch balls / witches balls were widely believed to be a protective device which were hung within the home to ward off evil spirits, especially the ‘evil eye’ and ‘witches’.

These intriguing superstitious objects have quite a history that is not all that clear. There are several theories of how and why they came in to being.

The more common theory relates to the use of these glass spheres within homes during the 18th and 19th centuries. Hung in the window the eye-catching reflective surface would ensnare the evil gaze of passing witches. It is said that the witch would then be entrapped by their reflection.

This theory links into older practices of the use of the ‘watch bottle’ rotund glass bottles that hung near the fireplace and would have held salt. These were used for cooking but given salt was used in early magic and the idea of witches coming down the chimney, all these themes start to come together.

Witch bottles, daisy wheel marks, or other apotropaic devices were all superstitious protection methods in the English home prior to the use of the witch ball.

A different theory of how the witch ball came into use relates to English maritime history.

Many examples of early witch balls look incredibly similar to the old glass fishing buoys used to keep fishing nets afloat. Traditionally sailors’ wives would hang a glass float in their window to protect their husband while he was at sea. They then possibly became entangled with witch superstition through the early witch trials and the act of ‘swimming’. Someone accused of practicing witchcraft was bound and dunked into water. If they sank they were considered innocent, however if they floated, much like the glass buoy, there were presumed guilty, and a witch.

The mystery of exactly why these beautiful glass spheres became part of social history is as alluring as their appearance.

This particular example dates to the latter part of the 19th century.

Dimensions:-

Diameter - 16" 

Circumference - 31 1/2" 

In lovely original condition with minor foxing and pitting.

A good size example with time worn look and highly sought after. 

No cracks.

One small surface scratch as illustrated.

One of a pair we currently have available.