Behind The Counter- Witch Marks
I absolutely love a piece of jewelry that tells a story. A personal talisman that has a significant meaning. Wearing these meaningful pieces on your body acts as a daily ritual, a reminder of things we hold dear.
The Witch Mark Collection is our newest T&B fine jewelry collection, which we will be releasing in the coming weeks. This one has an interesting backstory, which I have shared below. Take a deep dive in the inspiration behind these new pieces. If you make it to the end there is a Witch inspired playlist, perfect for the season. I hope that you are all enjoying these gorgeous fall days and that we see you at the shop soon.
Last fall I read about an exhibit that was happening at one of my favorite historical Elizabethan houses in England, Haddon Hall, titled “MAGIC: Charms, rituals and superstition in Elizabethan England.” This exhibit explored folklore, superstitions, herbology and “cunning folk” and most interestingly Witch Marks. This is a concept that I was totally unfamiliar with and was instantly mesmerized by. Witch Marks, or Apoprotaic marks, were used in Elizabethan times to ward off evil spirits and harmful magic. They consist of certain images carved inside buildings, usually around windows, doorways and especially around the hearth, where it was thought evil spirits could enter. Witch Marks, like the Daisy Wheel or Hexafoil, can also be found in the US, particularly on historic barns in Dutch Pennsylvania. These geometric symbols were thought to ward off evil and protect the barns that they were painted on.
I was so interested in this concept of Witch Marks that I instantly took a deep dive, researching Elizabethan folklore, common fears of the time, the history of Medieval witches and existing historical buildings that have evidence of Witch Marks. While researching more about Witch Marks, I also learned about objects being buried in homes to ward off evil spirits and harmful energy. These objects are usually only found during construction and conservation projects, but items such as shoes, dead cats (!!!) and “Witch Bottles” were concealed in walls and under floorboards in order to protect a building and its inhabitants. Witch Bottles were typically glazed stoneware bottles known as Bellarmine Bottles, often marked with a protective Daisy Wheel medallion. The objects found in the bottles vary, but they often contain bent nails and pins, hair and even urine. It is thought that the harmful energy or spells would be attracted to the items in the bottle and then become trapped and impaled within the bottle.
Around the same time that I was researching Witch Marks, I saw the film Hamnet directed by Chloe Zhao. If you have not seen the film or read the book, it is a heartbreaking story about William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes Hatheway and the loss of their young son, Hamnet, to the plague. Not only are the visuals and cinematography of this film absolutely stunning, but the character of Agnes really left a mark on me (pun intended). In this story, Agnes is portrayed as a “cunning folk” which in Medieval times was a local healer, often seen in place of a physician. There are many blurred lines between cunning folks and white witches of the time, as they both use herbology and plants, as well as spells and incantations to heal both the body and the soul. I again took a deep dive into the history of Agnes Hathaway and stunningly found that there are visible Daisy Wheel Witch Marks in many historic buildings connected to Shakespeare and his wife in Stratford-upon-Avon, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne (referred to as Agnes in Hamnet) Hatheway’s cottage. Full circle moment of inspiration! I can’t wait to take a pilgrimage to England to hunt for Witch Marks in person (I am hopefully going early Spring!).
This idea of protective marks and objects resonated so deeply with me that I decided to create a jewelry collection based on the concept. Protective talismans to adorn your body, steeped in history and lore, with just the right amount of witchiness. I have had so much fun working on this creative project and I hope you find it as bewitching as I do. The Witch Mark collection will be released in the coming weeks, culminating with a celebration at the shop on Halloween. I hope you join us.
WITCH MARK PLAYLIST
Get in the mood of the season with a witchy little playlist. It captures the vibe of our new collection perfectly. Click the image below to give it a listen.
WITCH MARK READING LIST
Want to take a deeper dive? Here are some online articles and books that inspire.
-Warding Off Evil with Witch Marks
-Witches: James I and the English Witch-Hunts by Tracy Norman- This book gives a good background of the fears of the time, highlighting the historical trial of the Belvoir Witches.
-Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell- This one is not for the faint of heart. It is the fictional story of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, as they deal with the death of their young son, Hamnet. Agnes is portrayed as a "cunning folk" of the time. Only pick this one up if you are prepared for a heavy one.
-Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft by Brian Hoggard- This book is an in depth look at the different forms of witch marks, as well as items that were buried in buildings to offer protection. It also includes case studies of different locations in England where they have been found.
-North Woods by Daniel Mason- I loved this book. While it is not about witches, it has some spooky undertones. "A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries." It made me think about "if these walls could talk", which is also what I wonder about houses that have witch mark engravings.
-The Unknown by Riley Sager- This one is a quick, creepy fiction that incorporates witch marks. Good if you want the vibes without all of the history.
