Macabre 18th Century mummified cat ward against witchcraft probably varying locally

probably varying locally

This is a great example of a folklore and belief that stretched for many centuries

These early example usually have quite naïve carvings compared to the later tourist items

This is the skull of Cocker spaniel

but I think that this wear just gives it provenance and a truly authentic look

Macabre 18th Century mummified cat ward against witchcraft probably varying locallyThe practice of putting sealing up dead animals into the walls of houses has been going since the middle ages in Europe. The belief seemed to be that a dried cat or dog would protect against witchcraft and scare a witch's familiar away from the house. It might have also been believed that the presence of these mummified animals also scared away rats and mice. This cat was discovered behind the plaster when the owner was renovating a house that dated