Superb Large Early 19th Century Cobalt Blue Mercury Glass Witch Ball Witches Bottle

Superb example of a hand-blown large early 19th century blue mercury glass witch ball / Witch bottle. This is the earlier type known as a Witches bottle with collar to the neck at the top to tie around for hanging and also for adding a cork, should you wish fill with with Holy water, urine, nails or hair burned or heated for the purpose of repelling or breaking a witches’ power over her victim. Old hanging wire around the top 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. 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. Peddler's sold these bottles at country fairs and door to door.