The large, hand-blown glass ball shown in today's post is called a witch's ball.
Witches' balls date back to 18th Century England. People hung the colorful glass balls in windows to ward off bad luck, evil, and spells.
Inside the balls are long strands of glass that look a little like upside down stalagmites that one finds in an underground cave.
Folklore has it that evil spirits are drawn to a witch's ball because of its beauty.
Then, the spirit gets caught inside among the strands. (Uh oh, I thought. What if someone accidentally breaks the ball? Where does the evil spirit go?)
The witch's ball shown in this post actually belongs to a friend, Sally, who is an excellent gardener and birder. She has the ball hanging on a porch room, overlooking her backyard.
While many witch balls are kind of small, Sally's is at least 10 inches across. It's actually quite exquisite.
Her witch's ball is done primarily in pink with numerous other colors blending in.
Many thanks to Sally for allowing photos of her witch's ball to appear in this post.
Have you ever seen something, liked it, refrained from buying it, but then regretted your decision?
Once, at an annual church yard sale that is massively popular, a large, hand-blown glass ball caught my eye. I carefully lifted it up out of the soft, lined box it came in.
It was quite large and very beautiful in varying shades of blue. I held it up to the light and loved it some more, then put it back in the box and walked away.
It was impossible to justify the cost of a totally unneeded item, no matter how lovely.
Now I realize the ball that got away was a witch's ball. It really was a beauty.
Still don't have a witch's ball to hang around here but never fear. Yard sale season is just around the corner.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A WITCH'S BALL? WOULD YOU LIKE ONE FOR YOUR HOME?
6 comments:
Wow! that is incredibly beautiful. I've never heard of a witch's ball. I'm forever passing up a bargain, going back for it and it's gone!
I've never heard of a witch's ball but it sure is pretty. Lots of jewelry and decorative items sold on this side of the world to ward off the "evil eye". Weather is awful -- dust has gotten worse. Gag, sputter! Hope your day is great. Tammy
At the first photo I said oh that is so pretty! I've never heard of a witches ball but they are gorgeous. I would buy one if I could at a good price....gorgeous! hugs, Linda
I love your beautiful ball!!! I have never seen such a pretty one.
Yes, I have not bought things I wish I had bought. :( Oh well.
sandie
I've heard of a crystal ball but not a witches ball...but they probably have similiar qualities..ha.
Very pretty but I would stay away from it if it were me. ha.
Never heard it called that, have seen a lot of different balls on stands in garden, but never seen one quite this beautiful. I have a bird bath I love so don't really have a place for a witch's ball and to be honest, the name puts me off no matter how beautiful it is. Yes, I have passed up items I regretted and have sold furniture that at the time seemed right but that I still miss and wish I could find them again. Think it is kind of human nature, don't you?
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