Spirit Bound Skull

Artist Axel Torvenius brings us this human skull pierced by a myriad of iron nails.  That was one of the traditional black magic techniques for binding a spirit into your service.  

Just make sure the nails are never removed. 

 

Hand of Glory

The Hand of Glory is a foul bit of black magic that allows thieves to open all doors and travel undetected.  It was first documented in the Petit Albert in the 18th century.

"Take the right or left hand of a felon who is hanging from a gibbet beside a highway; wrap it in part of a funeral pall and so wrapped squeeze it well. Then put it into an earthenware vessel with zimat, nitre, salt and long peppers, the whole well powdered. Leave it in this vessel for a fortnight, then take it out and expose it to full sunlight during the dog-days until it becomes quite dry. If the sun is not strong enough put it in an oven with fern and vervain. Next make a kind of candle from the fat of a gibbeted felon, virgin wax, sesame, and ponie, and use the Hand of Glory as a candlestick to hold this candle when lighted, and then those in every place into which you go with this baneful instrument shall remain motionless."

This particular specimen was acquired by Dan Baines, who is no stranger to these pages. 

 

Dracula Pendant

This nicely done "Dracula Pendant" comes to us from Russian artist Valeriya Belova.  Wonderful craftsmanship.  Click through for a gallery of shots, including a well produced video.

 

 

The Chalice of Babylon

Jason Soles of Gods Below has been producing some of the best Mythos and occult-adjacent artwork for years.  What sets his work apart, beyond his unique style, is that his castings are actual metal.  That includes this disturbing piece in bronze and sterling silver, the Chalice of Babylon.   

 

Play That Funky Music

The Museum of Cryprozoology and Occult Science brings us this creepy skull lyre made from a real human skull, antelope horns, skin, gut, and hair.  What makes it particularly notable is the sheer meta-ness of the piece.  It's a reproduction of an original in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art which itself was probably a gaff created in Africa.

"A highly unusual musical instrument in the Museum's collection is a lyre fashioned from a human skull. Although the piece has not been exhibited since before 1980, it gained fame in Jerzy Kosinski's 1982 best-selling novel Pinball—a rock 'n' roll mystery written for George Harrison—and perennially draws attention.

Not much is known about this instrument. It was purchased from an unnamed dealer at the end of the nineteenth century and was originally thought to have come from South America when it was cataloged in 1906, but was later reattributed to Central Africa. There is no known tradition to which this instrument may be assigned, although some have suggested it may have a symbolic or clandestine ritual use. Most likely it is a sensational item made by a clever indigenous entrepreneur for trade and profit with Europeans."

 

Idol of Ra

The latest pagan idol from Slagovir is this carved wooden depiction of Ra, the ancient Egyptian god of the sun.  I really like how he incorporates the traditional ship of the sun into the design. 

 

The Archon of Void

"This is the Archon of Void. Blind. Crowned with nails. The inner god that breathes in silence. He is point zero where all begins but nothing remains. Here destruction and creation are one."

Andrea Falaschi returns to our pages with this incredible piece, the Archon of Void.  

 

 

Ring of the Messenger

I love this.  Westwood FM brings us the "Ring of the Messenger" box.  The ceramic cover features strange geometric forms, inscribed glyphs from some unknown language, inhuman creatures, and the sigil of the Necronomicon.  All the ingredients for a truly intriguing item.

 

 

That Voodoo That You Do

Oh, this is nice.  Monsterlabs Studios returns to our pages with the latest in their "Cursed Items" series.  This time it's a complete voodoo doll kit.  It features a ritual doll with a neat reverse-flow incense burner, a collection of potion bottles, and a set of nicely realized darts, all with wonderful weathering.  Just click through on the link to check out a full gallery.

 

Dem Bones

Ugo Serrano returns to our pages with this selection of faux reliquary pieces.  Although "faux" isn't totally accurate.  They're made from real human finger bones, but aren't actually the phalanges of a recognized saint. Which, come to think of it, makes them an accurate recreation of a whole lot of "genuine" reliquaries.

 

 

Ancient Ritual Mask

This Lovecraft-inspired ancient ritual mask comes to us from artist Aleksandr Sivkov.  I really like how he's taken the basic form of tribal ancestor and spirit masks and given it a Giger-ish spin.

 

 

Dagon

This WIP look at an intriguing idol of Dagon comes to us from artist Jason Pfeifer.

 

 

 

Skull of the Third Eye

Another impressive piece from sculptor Ebrahel Lurci.  The skull adorned with the third eye is available in a variety of finishes.

 

The Year of the Snake

Yesterday was the lunar new year, officially ushering in the year of the snake.  Jason McKittrick has just the thing to mark the occasion, his talisman of Yig, Lord of Serpents.

Idol of Baphomet

Morok Art Studio returns to our pages with their Giger-inspired Baphomet statue.  It's a great sculpt, and the rust/gunmetal finish looks awesome.

 

 

Druidic Mask

As the year comes to a close the veil between this world and the next grows thinner.  That makes it the perfect time for this Druidic mask from Raven Dark Creations.

 

 

Aztec Death Whistle

MonsterLabs Studios returns to our pages with this incredible take on the Aztec Death Whistle.  Their interpretation includes a detailed display base.  From a Mythos perspective, given the historical ties between "death whistles" and the pre-Columbian wind god Ehacatl, it's likely they were used to summon Ithaqua or his servants.

 

The Blythburgh Whistle

We've featured quite a few of James Ewing's outstanding occult artifacts over the years here on Propnomicon.  His latest work is the mysterious Blythburgh Whistle, and example of both craftsmanship and incredibly creative worldbuilding. 

"Nobody knows who summoned the beast or why. However, we are confident that we know how.

The Blythburgh Whistle, like any other dog whistle, makes no sound audible to the human ear. This makes playing it incredibly difficult, and also, incredibly dangerous. The whistle may summon the black dog, but only playing the right tune will allow you to control it. Woe betide the person who picks up the whistle without knowing its song, as Black Shuck is sure to drag them back to the world of nightmares whence it came."

 Click through to see a complete gallery and the artifact's full backstory.

 

Vodou Object 66

 Alex Torvenius returns to our pages with this voodoo-inspired ritual skull.  

 

The Legacy of Auguste Delagrange

I am continually amazed how the vampire Auguste Delegrange has taken on a life, or un-life, of his own since his humble beginnings.  Louisiana Dread brings us this recap of his reign of terror, complete with details even I wasn't aware of.  Heh.