<
a lizard’s leg, mounted in a silver cradle decorated with filigree and beading, suspended from a ropetwist loop.
17th Century
£4, 800
Provenance
Exhibited:
Spellbound, Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft
at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018-2019.
The talisman is prized for its magical properties, as protection against evil and for its perceived prophylactic benefits.
Shakespeare in MacBeth’s haunting Witches’ chant references the magical potency of a lizard’s leg.
In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blindworm's sting, Lizard's leg and howlet's wing. For charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Double,double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.