NOTTA MUSEUM - Collection - Cornwall, UK

An Artists Home Exhibition Halloween 2014 - Cornwall (Steampunk, Witchcraft, Sculpture & Taxidermy)

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 15:40:00 +0000

Well we thought this was a good idea...

...and we thought running it as a crowdfunder project was the right way to go

Have a look at the video and see what you think?

Some of the other exhibits from the same collection may be found HERE

...and the crowdfunding project may be found HERE (Please take a look)

A POP-UP HALLOWEEN HOME EXHIBITION

Notta Museum - Cabinet of Curiosities - Cornwall

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:46:00 +0000

NOTTA MUSEUM - Cabinet of Curiosities - Pop-up Halloween Exhibition, Cornwall

A crowdfunder.co.uk project. 2014 The best explanation is to simply watch the video on this link here:- The Pop-up Home Exhibition will encompass:- # Witchcraft & Folklore artefacts # Steampunk objects # Male Sculptures # Natural History items # Miscelaneous ...but it is subject to achieving the crowdfunder target by 30th Sept 2014. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/notta-museum-cabinet-of-curiosities/

Pagans and Witches Eat Ritual Horse Meat, don't they?

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Horse Skulls used as protection totem or foundation sacrifice in buildings

Pagan Horse Skulls, Ritual Sacrifice & Eating Equine Flesh

Several reasons for this posting:-

(i) Attacks upon horses across the UK being blamed on witchcraft, pagans & Satanists

http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2012/04/19/animal-charity-fear-witchcraft-is-behind-horse-attack/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-16508657

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-314834/Return-horse-ripper.html#ixzz1swH2mPr5

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-314834/Return-horse-ripper.html#ixzz1sxmgGgz8

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/nov/10/paulharris.theobserver

(ii) The growing number of nouveau witches claiming wicca status who are seemingly oblivious and naive of fact of use in many traditional cultural pagan, witchcraft practises of items derived from previously living creatures.

(iii) The denial & misrepresentation by some pagans that usage of various parts of, eating of. & killing of horses is a fact of various widespread pagan histories & practises.

The horse's head as a source of power is an idea that seems to have survived among the various cultures of Europe and beyond.

A Copper Age cemetery dated about 4500-5000 B.C. Syezh'ye in Russia revealed ritual deposits of horse skulls.

Concealed Horse Skulls are uncommon but not exclusively rare in Ireland, Wales and England. In the United Kingdom concealed horse skulls most usually found beneath or within the structure of a building used as a probable foundation sacrifice.

Over 40 skulls were found beneath the floor the Portway Pub at Staunton-on-Wye in Herefordshire. Another sealed within the bread oven of a property in Manuden, Essex.

Ellsdon church in Northumberland contained three skulls in its bell turret. In Cambridgeshire several houses have contained horse bones within the structure of the walls. In Wales there are over forty recorded examples of concealed horse skulls in properties. In 1987 the Manx Museum became aware of a concealed skull in a house on the island being renovated.

http://www.youtube.com/mywitchcraft

In 1983 some ten horse skulls were recovered from beneath a cottage in Carnlough, in Ireland. Also in Ireland At Moyreisk, a house near Quin, horse skulls were found in recesses in the wall. Also in Ireland Edenvale near Ennis four horse skulls were found one in each corner beneath the floor.

The Celts, Germanic & Scandinavian pagan pre-Christian cultures all said to have practised animal sacrifice & ritual eating of horse flesh.

A Catholic religious ban of eating horse flesh was aimed at suppressing continuing Pagan culture & practise. Pope Gregory III charged Boniface in 732 AD with abolishing Pagan custom of slaughtering and ritual eating of horses.

Totemistic taboo may be a reason for reluctance to eat horse meat as an everyday food and its historical association with being a meat food of the poor, but did not necessarily preclude ritual slaughter and consumption. Icelandic people said to have been initially reluctant to embrace Christianity largely over the issue of giving up horse meat.

Scandinavian & Germanic cultures had customs involving horse's head upon a pole, as protection from witchcraft & other evils

Horse Skulls continue to feature in some UK folklore festivals like Welsh Mari Lwyd & Cornish Penglaz

http://www.earl-of-rone.org.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_Dance

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/821000.stm

The Mal Corvus Collection has a horse skull positioned facing doorway entrance. Some might think of it as a protection totem to keep ‘lilac & fluffy‘ witches at bay.

http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/folk.htm

Half Goat Faun Horned Roman Pagan Mythology God Deities

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Fauns are Roman mythical Pagan

woodland rural spirits or lesser deities.

http://www.youtube.com/mywitchcraft

Fauns are Roman mythical Pagan woodland rural spirits or lesser deities.

The faun described as being upper half human with lower half of a goat, with goat horns or goat kid nubs. Fauns are often associated with the Greek Satyrs and the Greek God Pan.

The Roman Faun, half goat half human
Image Royal Copenhagen Porcelain

Satyrs often associated with fertility, wine, passion & high sexual appetite and have acquired horns in many depictions.

Fauns and satyrs were originally quite different creatures, early Satyrs having ears and tails of horses or asses. Satyrs depicted as orgiastic sexualized drunken followers of Greek god Dionysus and his festivals. Fauns collectively are often represented as being younger than Greek Satyr

Faunus

An ancient Roman deity of the untamed woodlands, plains & fields being half human half goat. Faunus, has been equated with the Celtic horned god Cernunnos, with the Gaelic Celtic Dusios.and Cornish Bucca. The Pagan Roman Faunus was naturally equated with the Greek god Pan, who was a pastoral god of shepherds.

The Greek God Pan had always been depicted with horns and many depictions of Faunus also displayed this trait. The Romans believed fauns as manifestations of animal & forest spirits could help or hinder men travelling in remote places

There are some similarities and parallels to be drawn amongst all these various different pagan horned nature deities. All these horned deities speculatively interpreted as gods of nature and/or fertility.

Depicted in the video are Royal Copenhagen porcelain ‘faun’ designs primarily by Theodore Madsen (1880-1965) and Christian Thomsen (1860-1921)

Paganism Festivals Pagan Wheel of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:29:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/mywitchcraft

How much money for Dried, Desiccated and Dead, Cats, Rats & Bats

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:32:00 +0000

Mummified Rat House Protection
from Mal Corvus Collection

Mummified Cats, Dried Rats and Desiccated Bats in your loft

Yesterday my eye was caught by an article in the Daily Mail about how a person walked into an antique shop in Somerset, United Kingdom to try to sell a mummified cat & a rat.

I have seen ridiculous amounts of money requested for such mummified items on eBay and even seen a few illegal items listed (ie: UK bats), but that is generally due to ignorance of the laws governing sale of such things rather than any criminal intent.

The folklore practise of cats & often accompanying rats/mice being walled up, buried or placed in old buildings, where they become mummified (desiccated) is well documented & surprisingly common in the United Kingdom. Consensus seems to be that these creatures were placed in loft/wall spaces as a form of house protection, both physically & spiritually.

More commonplace, less gruesome & therefore less likely to be recorded by the local press, is a similar practise of placing shoes, most often children’s shoes in lofts, under floor boards & in wall cavities.

A quick Google search brought up mummified cats in Kent, London, Essex, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Dublin, Wiltshire, Dorset, and Devon, even in Pendle, Lancashire (witch country) where there has had a recent discovery, just in time for the 400 year anniversary of the Pendle Witch trials.

Interesting to me was just how many of these mummified cat discoveries were in the last decade. One might have thought there were not that many ancient buildings left in the UK which had not been worked on by builders previously.

The practise of sometimes placing a rat or mouse with the cat led me in my enquiries to mummified King Rats. Now these really are a gruesome spectacle. Folklore is King Rats are a bad omen & associated with plaque surrounding these creatures, the king rat phenomena being the result of these creatures unfortunately becoming trapped intertwined by their tails.

Anyone ferreting around in their attic for a modern day mouldering moggy feline fossil may come across a more regular inhabitant of some of our loft spaces, bats.

Native species of Bats in the UK are a much protected family of mammals by law….even surprisingly dried desiccated dead ones! The Bat Conservation Trust (UK) has a very informative website regarding both live & dead bats in your home, and what to do and not to do!

As to Cats & Rats, the Mal Corvus Collection has a desiccated Rat (see image top above), but would love to add a mummified cat to the collection.

C21st UK Rituals to Thieves, Killers and Carrion Feeders of Witchcraft Repute

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:51:00 +0000

The Witches MAGPIE
Killer, Thief, Cunning Prophet or Good Luck Omen

C21st UK Rituals to Thieves, Killers and

Carrion Feeders of Witchcraft Repute.

The Witches MAGPIE, Killer, Thief, Cunning Prophet or Good Luck Omen

In the Middle Ages and during witch-hunts in Europe, the bird considered to ‘chatter to witches’, like crows, ravens and black cats connected with witchcraft.

Magpies long reviled for allegedly carrying a drop of blood under their tongues. They are seen by some as a predator, eating other birds' eggs and their young, as well as carrion of dead animals like still born lambs.

Their feathers, skulls & bones used symbolically in some practical & traditional witchcraft practises.

Witch Curse Object with Magpie Feathers.
Mal Corvus Collection

A Magpie near the house in the UK said to foretell death, but two together chattering is a sign of prosperity. They have a weakness for shiny objects (bling) & known to steal jewellery, etc. from available windows, making them for some the ‘chav’ of the bird world.

C16th ‘mag’ meaning chatter, & ‘pie’ meant pied (black & white) making the bird ‘chatter-pied’ or magpie.

Sighting a lone Magpie is generally associated as ill omen or bad luck in the UK. Upon encountering a single bid many still doff their hat or salute as a form of respect. …Or will greet the bird "Hello Mr Magpie" "How’s your wife” or "Good Morning/Evening Sir".

Others may spit on the ground upon seeing a single Magpie to avert the bad luck. It is the only bird in the C21st in the UK with such widespread ritual superstition greeting associated with it. The bird does mate for life, hence possible folk ritual enquiries as to the absent partner.

The ancient Roman’s viewed the magpie as a creature of high regard & intelligence, as do Chinese, Koreans, Finnish, & Native North Americans. Recent studies have shown Magpies are factually amongst the most intelligent of all birds.

Magpies are now one of the most common birds in the UK. The RSPB say numbers having increased by 112% over the last 30 years.

In witchcraft they are seen as cunning prophets or messengers associated with divination, prophecy and symbolism of bridges crossing between spirit world & this realm.

The WITCHES MAGPIE, Killer, Thief, Cunning Prophet or Good Luck Omen

Gripping C20th Witch Curse Talon and Skull Object

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:40:00 +0000

C20th Witch Talon and Skull Witchcraft
Malicious Curse Tool from Mal Corvus Collection

A Gripping C20th Witch Talon and Skull

Witchcraft Malicious Curse Tool Object

There is much ‘pink & fluffy’ feel good witchcraft being promoted & proselytised today. It is therefore quite easy with the current witchbrand repackaging to lose sight of the long standing historical reputation, practise & even purpose why many ordinary persons actively consulted a witch crafter. Consultation was often either for the creation of a curse or directing ill will towards another, or for protection of the same from another.

Most witches, wise women, pellar, cunning folk, conjurers (in the old sense of the word) were simply providing a local pay or barter for service. One village White Witch or Wise women was another village Dark Witch.

Of course there were the ancient DIY lead curse object versions like those employed by the Romans and used with the help of the Gods via their places of worship.

A curse (also called execration) is an expressed wish that adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity, one or more persons, a place, or an object.

Often much of an object intended for delivering a curse is made up of symbolic component parts drawn together as one by the charm/curse crafter. The ‘Cursing Talon or Claw’ illustrated above is made up of several vital symbolic parts.

• The pointed beak of the birds’ skull is for direction.

• The feathers to give the curse flight to carry it where intended

• The claw to grip the intended recipient of the curse for delivery.

(NB: Note the use of Magpie feathers, a bird which has various superstitions and folklore attatched to it.)

In some cases a small piece of paper with appropriate (inappropriate) words of a curse will be also attached (like a carrier pigeon), or simply spoken, or even thought in ritual creation of the charm/curse object.

There is a considerable difference between a ‘cursed object & a ‘cursing’ object.

A cursed object

…is one that carries its curse around with it. Cursed objects are often supposed to have been stolen from their rightful owners & the curse conveys on with the object. One of the most famous is the Hope Diamond.

A ‘cursing object’

..may be used as a means of conveyance on conduit for a curse. Usually in its creation words are attached either in thoughts or spoken.

It is a little like once any idea has been formulated and expressed it cannot be undone. The words we think or speak go out into the air and many believe they have power to do good or evil. Even the Christians seem to think so. Ecc. 10:20 “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter”.

Some items of witchcraft may have both ‘come to’ and ‘go away’ properties dependent upon purpose & intent of the charm/curse creator. What is defence/protection for one may in practice be psychic assault upon another.

Cursing objects may be seen by some as weapons of witchcraft warfare. In themselves, like magick benign, it’s how it may be used that determines ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and that will depend upon perception of being either the sender or recipient.

Many objects may be perceived as cursing objects, but are just as likely to be defensive protection against curses.

For example: The ‘witch bottle’ may be seen as a cursing item, but may be used as ‘go away’ protection from a curse or malevolence. Likewise is may be the created object of cursing directed against an intended target or recipient.

The ‘witch poppet’, wax doll or other forms of witch doll may be used both in negative & positive practice. It may be used in healing, but is far more commonly associated with intent to cause harm or ill will.

The study of the many forms of curses entails the study of both folk religion and folklore. The deliberate attempt to levy curses is often perceived by some as part of the practice of magic.

In many religious & belief systems, the curse itself and/or accompanying ritual is considered to have some causative affect & power in the result. Belief in curses & the adverse affects are widespread. Indeed there are numerous references in Christian, Hindi & Islamic texts to curses.

A cursing object in its application may require it surreptitiously being placed in the home, on the property or in possession of the intended target or may be hung (air), cast/drowned into water (water), buried (earth) or burned (fire) depending on actions, intent & belief factors of the witch charm crafter.

A handy little Chinese folk curse; “May the worst day of your past be the best day of your future”

Which is a different take on, "Today is the 1st day of the rest of your life”

Imagine a world without Witches and Witchcraft

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Imagine a world with no witches, witchcraft...and no Harry Potter?

I'm having a difficult day submitting this blog URL here and there. Tiresome and tedious given that my broadband conveys a signal with all the efficiency of a hand fire bucket chain of one armed untrained monkeys.

That said I stumbledupon whilst blundering about this poem:- So I nicked it!

Can You Imagine?
(For the Child in All of Us)
by Robert F. Potts

Can you imagine a world without witches,
A world with all people the same?
Where the only known dragons are hiding in books,
And children are terribly tame?
A world without magic would be sad indeed.
I cannot imagine the pain
Of having a world where there's no Santa Claus,
Where wizards are searched for in vain.

Can you imagine a world without spells,
That science and businesses run?
And think of the sadness a unicorn feels
When he no longer plays in the sun
Can you imagine a world without witches,
No elves, and no magical pools?
And can you imagine how dull it would be
If all that we had were the schools?

I cannot imagine a world without witches,
A world with no magical wand.
A world without beauty, or even a dream,
Or a wood sprite of whom to be fond
They say I should grow up and be more mature,
Like a normal adult ought to do.
But I'd rather, at night, go to dance with a witch,
And I'll bet that you feel that way, too

I just like it (maybe its the frame of mind I'm in).

Thank you Mr Robert F Potts for brightening my tedious morning

WANTED: Dead, Old Stuffed Taxidermy and other bizarre witchcraft and folklore curios

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:32:00 +0000

Mal Corvus Collection wants more Old Stuffed Taxidermy

and other bizarre witchcraft and folklore curios

I despair when I discover some things people have thrown away.

Especially things like horns, skulls, stuffed animals (of the taxidermy variety) as it is not PC to have bits of an animal hanging about (Seems to work for Pepparami?...it's a bit of an animal, their ad slogan).

To this end I have decided to run a donate video, for all those with curious bits of deceased this & that which some may like to get rid of without adding to a landfill site.

WANTED: Dead, Old Stuffed Taxidermy and other bizarre witchcraft and folklore curios

Many, many years ago when as a child I started to collect things…often slightly weird things!

Drawn by a natural inclination towards items and curios, which only later I learned had Superstition, Folklore and quite often Witchcraft connotations. Often these items were to be found in 2nd hand junk shops …the bits & pieces often nobody else wanted. Tatty Stuffed creatures, skulls, horns, tribal items, sinister dolls, stone arrows and tools …well just strange things!

Alas. most of my initial collection was lost in the 1980’s…relationships can sometimes have that affect. But the collection has re-grown again in the last few decades or so.

I still get told…
“Oh, we used to have one of those… I did not like it; it gave me the creeps, so I threw it away”

PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT THROW IT AWAY!

That old pair of horns in the shed….
The old wooden figure in the garage….
That old stuffed ‘thing’ in the attic…..
That bottle with the bearded face…..
Those fossils and crystals…you don’t know what to do with….
That Medical Anatomical Anatomy thing….
That dead animal skin rug….
Those amulets, charms and talisman…

The Mal Corvus Witchcraft and Folklore Collection is a personal accumulation of Folk Custom Belief, Superstition and Curio items …and would really like to give unwanted weird and strange things a new.

CITES (Pre- 1947)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments. CITES aim is to quite rightly ensure international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

HOWEVER, this can make getting rid of ‘Dead Stuffed’ things sensibly & responsibly sometimes difficult, as sadly the CITES rules & regulations are so obstructive, they effectively encourage the easier DESTRUCTON by throwing away and discarding of existing specimens of taxidermy, etc. rather than their preservation.
…but if it been dead a long time and you want to give it away to a new home

…then we may be able to help

PS:- Although we may happily accept Human Skulls ...we do NOT accept grandparents, especially not ALIVE ones or X-WIVES, no matter how much of a WITCH you may think they are!

So, if you do have something that might fit in the Mal Corvus Collection, which you do not want, and would like to donate.

Please message me to begin a dialogue

The Unfortunate Mole; Superstition & Folklore

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:01:00 +0000

Charm bag, tooth and Moles feet, a cure for toothache.
From the Mal Corvus Collection

The Mole; Superstition & Folklore

The Common Mole has been much used in folklore & Magick; from predicting deaths, to making women dance naked, to generating wealth & curing toothache. Numerous spells & rural cures exit derived from the poor mole and most entail gruesome demise of the unfortunate creature.

In AD 77 PLINY wrote “There is no animal in the entrails of which they (sorcerers) put such implicit faith, no animal…better suited for the rites of religion”

In AD 77 PLINY wrote “If a person swallows the heart of a mole, fresh from the body (& still beating), he will receive the gift of divination”

c1790: To obtain the gift of healing hands, hold a live mole until it expires

c1863: A purse made from real moleskin is for luck & wealth

c1873: To cure fits, a few drops of live Mole blood taken in a glass of water

c1950: It was still considered lucky to own a real moleskin purse

c1953: In Cornwall it was still practise to wear the skin of a mole as cure for goitre & other swellings

Common practise throughout the British Isles was moles feet used as a charm cure for toothache. There are records of this continuing at least into the c1970's

This practise from Kent, Shropshire, Sussex, Worcs, Glos, Hertfordshire to Scotland, to wear a Moles decapitated hands in a bag around ones neck

Although the mole can be eaten, fortunately for the mole the taste is said to be deeply vile & unpleasant, which is just as well for the mole.

The Masculine Wand in Contemporary Witchcraft

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:29:00 +0000

Several Wands from the Mal Corvus Collection

The WAND

(or rod, virge)

Used as an instrument of invocation, serves to direct energy, channel power, and to draw magical symbols or a circle on the ground. A wand (also: magic wand) is generally thin, straight, stick; of wood, stone, ivory, or metal. Generally, wands are ceremonial and/or have associations with magic.

A Wand can have several functions:

• Ritual ceremonial tool

• Symbolic of element fire (or air) & masculine phallus

• Used to summon certain spirits where it would be inappropriate to use the athame"

• Tool for the directing energy in spell crafting

Antler Handled Wands in Mal Corvus Collection

The primary purpose of the wand is to invite & direct, whereas the athame commands. Elemental spirits, traditionally believed to be scared of iron and steel of a blade (athame). In witchcraft the wand usually symbolic of the element fire or air, the masculine, & the phallus.

The direction most usually associated with a wand is either South (Fire) or East (Air). The colour most usually associated can be Red (Fire) or Yellow (Air).

Some view the athame (ritual blade) and wand as interchangeable, but for others there is a difference.

Witchcraft on a Budget

Purchasing a wand is acceptable, as different wands may be used for specific functions, or even for specific spells. Many prefer to craft their own; the use dictates the type of wood used and any stones or markings applied to it.

Simple guidelines some may like to follow:

- All tools should be cleansed and consecrated before ritual, ceremonial or spell crafting

- No tool to be used for other than magic or ritual purpose

(there are some who differ)

- Never touch someone else's tools without their permission and visa-versa

A wand can be of a variety of materials:- Wood, metal, stone, bone, ivory, antler or horn.

Some wood considered the best for wands, although not exclusive, are Hazel, Ash, Rowan and Willow.A wand can be quite plain, through to highly decorative with ornamental engraving and symbols, although ornamentation is largely superfluous to function.

When stored a wand it should be wrapped so there is no contact with other tools. Also common sense, to prevent damaged to the artefact

Censer Incense Burner use in Witchcraft and Wicca

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:43:00 +0000

Linton English made Arts & Crafts movement copper & brass
from Mal Corvus Witchcraft & Folklore Collection

The CENSER

(or thurible, koro)

Censers are any type of vessels made for burning incense. The burning of incense may have a variety of ritual purposes cleansing, purification or as offering, or in some banishing rituals. In witchcraft a censer usually symbolic: of the element Air or Fire.

Most often placed on the masculine right side of an altar, the right & a censer generally associated as being masculine. The incense or herbs burned depend on purpose of ritual and the energies being called upon.

A censer may be made of a variety of materials:-
Gold, Bronze, Silver, Brass, Pewter, Pottery, Glass, Stone,, Crystal, etc.
…even Resin?

The primary purpose of a censer is to safely contain burning of incense. It may be a small object of only a few centimetres to as many as several metres high. In practical witchcraft, some domestic items interchangeable with daily function & that of ritual.

Simple guidelines some may like to follow:-

(I) - All tools should be cleansed and consecrated before ritual, ceremonial or spell crafting
(II) - No tool to be used for other than magic or ritual purpose
(there are some who differ)
(III)- Never touch someone else's tools without their permission and visa-versa

When stored a chalice should be wrapped so there is no contact with other tools. Also common sense, to prevent damaged to the artefact

Budget Witchcraft

Some censers can be expensive. A less expensive alternative is a 2nd hand copper rose bowl filled with sand. Ebay, auctions or car-boot sales ideal location, especially if you like antique, retro, vintage craftsmanship in your witchcraft artefacts & tools

WICCA and WITCHCRAFT BLADES. The ATHAME

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Witchcraft Blades from Mal Corvus Collection

The ATHAME

The Athame is generally a black-handled (although not for all), straight blade double-edged, knife like tool.

It is only used & intended for ritual purposes and not intended for use to cut anything material. It used to direct, channel energy, casting of a circle, or defining of a working sacred inner-space.

Athame stands as one of the four elemental tools in Wicca. It may be made of metal, wood, bone, etc. The athame & sword generally associated with the element of fire. Direction most usually associated is south & colour most usually associated is red

Small Silver Blades under 20cm in length. Mal Corvus Collection

Budget Witchcraft

Auctions or car-boot sales are ideal location, especially if you like antique, retro, vintage craftsmanship in your blade. Ebay.co.uk has a strict no daggers or swords policy in the UK, however, if size is not the issue (…and I’m told size is not everything)…try searching for ‘letter openers’ on eBay…but DO check on lengths to ensure an item may suite your purpose.

Simple guidelines some may like to follow:

(I) – All tools should be cleansed and consecrated before ritual, ceremonial or spell crafting
(II) - No tool to be used for other than magic or ritual purpose (there are some who differ)
(III) - Never touch someone else's tools without their permission and visa-versa

When stored a blade should be cleaned & wrapped so there is no contact with other tools. Also common sense, to prevent damaged to the artefact

NB: WARNING:

There are legal age restrictions apply on the purchasing of knives in the UK. In most Western countries it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon. An athame upon your person counts as a concealed weapon.

Early C20th Silver Mappin & Webb Chalice or Goblet from Mal Corvus Witchcraft Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Mappin & Webb Silver Chalice or Goblet

Early C20th from Mal Corvus Collection

The CHALICE

A CHALICE (or goblet, libation cup) used to hold liquid (Wine, Water, Blood, etc.) in witchcraft & usually symbolic of the element water, the feminine, & the womb.

A chalice can have several functions:
• Ritual ceremonial vessel
• Symbolic of the element water & the feminine womb
• Scrying, (form of divination)
• Vessel for the charging of liquid with energy in spell working

In practical witchcraft, some domestic items interchangeable with daily function & that of ritual.

Simple guidelines some may like to follow:
- All tools should be cleansed and consecrated before ritual,
ceremonial or spell crafting
- No tool to be used for other than magic or ritual purpose
(there are some who differ)
- Never touch someone else's tools without their permission and visa-versa

The primary purpose of a chalice is to hold some form of libation during ritual. Most often placed on the left side of an altar, the left dedicated to the feminine. Direction most usually associated west & colour most usually associated is blue.

When stored a chalice should be wrapped so there is no contact with other tools. Also common sense, to prevent damaged to the artefact. Some favour Silver as metal of choice for a chalice (goblet, cups): being symbolic metal of the Moon, & of the Goddess. Others favour Horn, Wood or Pottery

As not all chalices, ritual cups are made of silver or silvered metal. Ritual vessel (chalice, goblet, cups) can be of a variety of materials:- Gold, Bronze, Silver, Brass, Pewter, Ceramic Stoneware Pottery, even Glass Soapstone, Alabaster, Crystal, Horn, Bone, Skull (Kapala), Wood even Gourd …even Resin?

A chalice ritual vessel can be quite plain, through to highly decorative with ornamental engraving and symbols. A good auction or car boot sale can be an excellent place to find an appropriate vessel, be it new, vintage, retro or antique.

My Own Favourite C19th Old Family Witch

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:11:00 +0000

My Own Favourite C19th Old Family Witch
from the Mal Corvus Collection

This particular C19th Staffordshire pottery witch has been in my family for three generations. The old girl is in perfect condition.

It depicts an Old lady riding a goose with broom in hand. Made in around 1875 this old girl belonged to my Grandmother. My own dear old mum, born in the 1930’s can remember it for all of her life.

These C19th Staffordshire Mother Goose witch figures although not rare are uncommon, and can fetch fine prices at auction.

The Mother Goose character can be traced in published stories & rhymes at least back to Jean Loret’s La Muse Historique, collected in 1650. His remark, ...comme un conte de la Mère Oye ("...like a Mother Goose story") shows that the term was already familiar then.

This of course falling in the historical period of the paranoid Witch Hunts across Europe. One such Mother Goose rhyme:

Old Mother Goose,

When she wanted to wander,

Would ride through the air

On a very fine gander.

Jack's mother came in,

And caught the goose soon,

And mounting its back,

Flew up to the moon.

Comparisons can be made between Mother Goose in children's poems and the popular conception of a witch in the past .

Witches were able to fly ( the broomstick replaced by a goose, hence the name - Mother Goose, but still has her besom, broom in hand)
A witch often portrayed as an old crone ( a drain upon the local community with no one to defend her against accusations of witchcraft)
Witches often associated as living alone (house in the wood)
Witches were known to a have 'familiars' (most often cats but other animals too! In this case a goose?)

The identity of the Mother Goose in Nursery Rhymes one could relatively safely say was a witch!

Of course one could speculate about capes made of bird pelts or feathers to fly with metaphorically or spiritually. In Cornwall there are the swan witch pits with bird pelts, an interesting relatively recent archaeological discovery of a pagan past.

Cornwall Witchcraft Museum used to have one of these Staffordshire figures in there own collection. Alas it was lost to them in the great Boscastle flood of 2004.

This dear old witch figure is the archetypal old witch, being an old crone with pointy hat, broom, & flying.

noreply@blogger.com (Mal Corvus) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:06:00 +0000

The Mal Corvus

Witchcraft & Folklore Collection

This Blog will focus upon artefacts & objects in the small privately owned Mal Corvus Witchcraft & Folklore Collection.

I originally started this Blog with grand intentions back in 2009.

Unfortunately, it did not go the way I had planned. A combination of factors conspired, preventing me from running the Blog as originally hoped & wished.

As a result I have chosen to delete (today 30th April 2012) all previous posts that ran from 2009.

I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. The prior posts will not fit in with the way I intend to run the Blog from now on.

Living as I do in the rural back of beyond in Cornwall & with an internet connection the speed of an arthritic snail with a limp, I concluded a far simpler approach was required.

That simpler approach is to create an item by item online reference record of the Mal Corvus Collection of Witchcraft & Folklore artefacts.