A Mixed Group of Seventeen Victorian Mercury Glass Witches Balls c.1890-1900

Origin: English
Period: Late Victorian
Provenance: Unknown 
Date: c.1890-1900
The Largest: 7” diameter
The Smallest: 1.5” diameter

The large group of seventeen hand-blown lustrous mercury glass witches balls, of mixed sizes, having the original hanging pressed loop crown attachments, and when hung each reflecting an entire room, the wholes showing a beautiful all-over patination, in a wonderful assortment of colours including emerald and apple green, cobalt blue, ruby red, gold and silver, each surviving from the zeniths of nineteenth century England.

The collection survives in beautifully timeworn condition, with areas of foxing, spotting and deterioration to the internal silvering, surface scratches and wear, oxidation and tarnishing to the metal fittings and the inevitable inconsistencies inherent in early blown glass. The varying construction and fittings indicate that these were assembled as a collection rather than produced as a single set. Their imperfections, particularly the fractured and mottled quality of the old silvering, are an important part of their visual appeal. One example lacks its cap but still functions to hang.

Witches balls have a rather interesting and mysterious history and there have been several theories put forward as to their main use. The most common theory is that witch balls were hung in 18th and 19th-century windows to ward off evil spirits as it was believed that witches could be entrapped by their own reflection. Other theories include the objects being used as an early form of burglar alarm with the large surfaces reflecting intruders to ones attention. History tells us glass houses in England began producing witch balls in about 1690. 

In 16th century England the witch ball was called a ‘watch bottle’ designed to contain holy water supporting the folk tale relating them to magic associated with them. The witches bottle was a stone or glass bottle filled with urine, nails or hair burned or heated for the purpose of repelling or breaking a witches’ power over her victim. Peddlars sold these bottles at country fairs and door to door.

An exceptionally atmospheric collection, and increasingly difficult to assemble in such quantity and with this degree of variation in scale and colour. Displayed individually they are beautiful pieces of antique glass; suspended together as a group of seventeen, they become a wonderfully eccentric sculptural installation, the aged mirrored surfaces and jewel-like colours constantly morphing with their surroundings.