Superstitious Collection

The Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513 (etching)
BEN208710 The Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513 (etching) by DAOErer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528); 19x24.5 cm; Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Tuscany, Italy; (add.info.: The Christian knight)

Superstitions
An interesting instance of the popular aversion to walking under a ladder. A group of superstitious pedestrians find themselves in a bit of a scrum as they attempt to squeeze through the smallest gap

Werewolves, illustration for Legendes Rustiques
CHT170907 Werewolves, illustration for Legendes Rustiques by George Sand (1804-76) 1858 (litho) by Sand, Baron Dudevant Jean Francois Maurice (1823-89); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

The Latest Spelling Test by William Heath Robinson
A desperate effort to instil good luck into a five-franc plaque before returning to the Casino. Illustration by William Heath Robinson (1872-1944)

Black cat, c.1910 (print)
7293179 Black cat, c.1910 (print); (add.info.: Paranormal. superstition. "Good Luck." A black cat, sign of wealth in the United Kingdom)

Faience amulet
5304681 Faience amulet.; (add.info.: Roman-Egyptian, Faience amulet depicting the Lion Headed Hercules. 100-300 AD.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Amulet Container (Ga'u) 1900-1920
5304650 Amulet Container (Ga'u) 1900-1920.; (add.info.: Men wore this type of shrine-shaped amulet container when travelling, strapped to their waist or across a shoulder)

Popular Superstitions: The howling of a dog at night (colour litho)
8668714 Popular Superstitions: The howling of a dog at night (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The howling of a dog at night)

Popular Superstitions: Sneezing (colour litho)
8668705 Popular Superstitions: Sneezing (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sneezing)

Popular Superstitions: Lucky white heather (colour litho)
8668762 Popular Superstitions: Lucky white heather (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lucky white heather)

Amulet Container (Ga'u) 1900-1920
5304648 Amulet Container (Ga'u) 1900-1920.; (add.info.: Men wore this type of shrine-shaped amulet container when travelling, strapped to their waist or across a shoulder)

Saint Stephen. Detail from 'The Preaching of Saint Stephen in Jerusalem'. Painting by Vittore Carpaccio
BEN5461367 Saint Stephen. Detail from 'The Preaching of Saint Stephen in Jerusalem'. Painting by Vittore Carpaccio

Greeting card representing a family loaded with symbols of luck and fortune
JAB5037048 Greeting card representing a family loaded with symbols of luck and fortune. Postcard from the beginning of the 20th century.; (add.info)

The steam of Tremblay in the Gulf of Cartagene, 29/09/1857. Ex voto. Anonymous painting, 1857
JEB4879946 The steam of Tremblay in the Gulf of Cartagene, 29/09/1857. Ex voto. Anonymous painting, 1857. Cathedrale de Notre Dame de la Garde

Kanishka inaugurates Mahayana (Northern) Buddhism, AD 100 (litho)
8661013 Kanishka inaugurates Mahayana (Northern) Buddhism, AD 100 (litho) by Dudley, Robert Ambrose (1867-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Kanishka inaugurates Mahayana (Northern) Buddhism

The Fables of La Fontaine: The Two Adventurers and the Talisman (engraving)
8669279 The Fables of La Fontaine: The Two Adventurers and the Talisman (engraving) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Two Adventurers and the Talisman)

Popular Superstitions: Opening an umbrella indoors (colour litho)
8668724 Popular Superstitions: Opening an umbrella indoors (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Opening an umbrella indoors)

Popular Superstitions: Crossing a knife and fork (colour litho)
8668721 Popular Superstitions: Crossing a knife and fork (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Crossing a knife and fork)

Popular Superstitions: Burning of the ear (colour litho)
8668718 Popular Superstitions: Burning of the ear (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Burning of the ear)

Popular Superstitions: The breaking of a mirror (colour litho)
8668707 Popular Superstitions: The breaking of a mirror (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The breaking of a mirror)

Popular Superstitions: Seeing the new moon (colour litho)
8668703 Popular Superstitions: Seeing the new moon (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Seeing the new moon)

Africa: Bisharin child with amulet (b/w photo)
8664793 Africa: Bisharin child with amulet (b/w photo) by Bernatzik, Hugo Adolf (1897-1953); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bisharin child with amulet)

The happiness sower, 1910-20 (postcard)
7422872 The happiness sower, 1910-20 (postcard); (add.info.: Paranormal. Superstition. The happyness sower. Woman sows amulets and lucky charms. Postcard, France, 1910-20.); © Archives Charmet.

Medal representing Saint Michel. Anonymous. Musee municipal d'Avranches (Manche)
JEB4960415 Medal representing Saint Michel. Anonymous. Musee municipal d'Avranches (Manche); Musee d'art et d'histoire, Avranches, France; (add.info.: Medal representing Saint Michel)

Popular Superstitions: The third to light a cigarette from one match (colour litho)
8669323 Popular Superstitions: The third to light a cigarette from one match (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Popular Superstitions: The lucky horseshoe (colour litho)
8668722 Popular Superstitions: The lucky horseshoe (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The lucky horseshoe)

Popular Superstitions: The Banshee (colour litho)
8668712 Popular Superstitions: The Banshee (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Banshee)

Popular Superstitions: The shoe at weddings (colour litho)
8668706 Popular Superstitions: The shoe at weddings (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The shoe at weddings)

Equity or the sailor's prayer before the battle
MMM5481797 Equity or the sailor's prayer before the battle by Tegg, Thomas (1776-1845) ; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Fairness or the sailor's prayer before the battle)

Ancient amulet used to ward off ghosts
3330383 Ancient amulet used to ward off ghosts; (add.info.: Ancient amulet used to ward off ghost. From Iraq. Dated 10th Century BC.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Lily of the Valley. Botanical, France, ca 1880 (colour engraving)
3434344 Lily of the Valley. Botanical, France, ca 1880 (colour engraving); (add.info.: Sciences. Botanique. Planche botanique, France, fin 19eme. Coll. Part. Science. Botany. Lily of the Valley)

Do You Know: Why a horse-shoe for luck? (colour litho)
8668139 Do You Know: Why a horse-shoe for luck? (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Why a horse-shoe for luck)

Popular Superstitions: Stumbling and falling (colour litho)
8668726 Popular Superstitions: Stumbling and falling (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Stumbling and falling)

Popular Superstitions: Shooting an Albatross (colour litho)
8668747 Popular Superstitions: Shooting an Albatross (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shooting an Albatross)

Matthew Hopkins, English witch hunter (engraving)
8676083 Matthew Hopkins, English witch hunter (engraving) by English School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Matthew Hopkins (c1620-1647), English witch hunter

German made playing card: the jack is represented under the grotesque features of a goggle hunchback
FGL5489045 German made playing card: the jack is represented under the grotesque features of a goggle hunchback and dirty nose wearing objects against the evil eye

Esoterism: a plague protection amulet consisting of Hebrew formulas and symbols of the Kabbalah (cabal) and magic
FGL5482941 Esoterism: a plague protection amulet consisting of Hebrew formulas and symbols of the Kabbalah (cabal) and magic

Cabala: Protection Against The Plague, 16th century (engraving)
7272467 Cabala: Protection Against The Plague, 16th century (engraving); (add.info.: CABALA Design of amulet drawn from'Shaar has-Yichoud'di Haim Vital, XVI sec)

The brick " The Stone" command by Captain Rebuffa assaulted by a hurricane on 2/07/1822. Ex voto
JEB4879970 The brick " The Stone" command by Captain Rebuffa assaulted by a hurricane on 2/07/1822. Ex voto. Painting by Antoine Roux (1765-1835). 1822

Botany. Four leaf clover, amulet. Postcard, France, 1909
2636237 Botany. Four leaf clover, amulet. Postcard, France, 1909.; Private Collection; (add.info.: Botanique. Coll. Part.); Photo © CCI.

Astrology (engraving)
8672857 Astrology (engraving) by Burgkmair, Hans (c.1473-1531) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Astrology. Illustration from Geschichte der Deutschen Kultur)

Do You Know: Why were tankards originally glass-bottomed? (colour litho)
8668134 Do You Know: Why were tankards originally glass-bottomed? (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Why were tankards originally glass-bottomed)

Popular Superstitions: Spilling the salt (colour litho)
8668725 Popular Superstitions: Spilling the salt (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Spilling the salt)

Popular Superstitions: Putting on the left shoe before the right (colour litho)
8668723 Popular Superstitions: Putting on the left shoe before the right (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Putting on the left shoe before the right)

Popular Superstitions: Thirteen at table (colour litho)
8668720 Popular Superstitions: Thirteen at table (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thirteen at table)

Popular Superstitions: Whistling for a wind (colour litho)
8668717 Popular Superstitions: Whistling for a wind (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Whistling for a wind)

Popular Superstitions: Under the mistletoe (colour litho)
8668713 Popular Superstitions: Under the mistletoe (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Under the mistletoe)

Popular Superstitions: The Magpie (colour litho)
8668740 Popular Superstitions: The Magpie (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Magpie)

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"Unveiling the Superstitious: From Ancient Egypt to Modern Times" Step into a world where superstitions reign, from the enigmatic etching of "The Knight, Death and the Devil" in 1513 to the whimsical illustration of werewolves in "Legendes Rustiques. " These glimpses into human fascination with the unknown take us on a journey through time. Intriguingly, even as early as 1405-1367 BC, ancient Egyptians held ankh symbols tightly, seeking protection and eternal life. The statues of Iwnit and Hathor showcase their belief in these powerful talismans. Similarly, King Akhenaton donned his double crown while clutching Heka and Wast - symbols representing magic and power. Fast forward to epidemic deaths in the 16th century when fear gripped societies worldwide. People sought solace in superstitious practices that promised safety amidst chaos. Little did they know that centuries later, Eddie Merton would emerge as a superstitious stuntman who found comfort sleeping inside a coffin before daring feats. A peculiar sight indeed - him sipping tea upright within his hotel room. But let's not forget William Heath Robinson's comical touch with "The Latest Spelling Test. " As students nervously faced their exams, he humorously highlighted how superstitions can infiltrate even mundane tasks like spelling tests. From ancient rituals to modern-day quirks, it seems humans have always been captivated by superstitions' allure. Whether it be seeking protection from evil forces or finding luck before daunting challenges – our fascination remains unchanged throughout history. So next time you catch yourself knocking on wood or avoiding black cats, remember that these age-old beliefs connect us to our ancestors' fears and hopes. Superstition may seem irrational at times but understanding its roots allows us to appreciate humanity's enduring quest for meaning beyond what meets the eye.