Located in Northampton, MA
Near the end of the 19th century, Spiritualism and the occult became popular fascinations with the Victorians. Even Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert were known to have met with a medium in the 1860s, if not earlier. Spiritualism was based on the belief that one could communicate with the dearly departed with the help of a medium, who might engage in a seance or perform an act of automatic writing. The Ouiji board was introduced in 1890 and you can still buy one in any toy store so we are all, perhaps, still just a little fascinated with what may be just beneath the surface.
Along with spiritualism, there was a rise in the popularity of witchcraft in its many forms. Also enjoying the popularity of the Victorian obsession with the occult was the stage magician, who performed "magic tricks" for enchanted audiences.
This hand-carved, one-of-a-kind magic wand...
Category
1860s Unknown Victorian Antique Citrine More Objets d'Art and Vertu