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- 24" Pinewood Skull and Dragonfly Tabletop Crystal Cabinet - A Séance Reading Room Find - The Voodoo Estate
24" Pinewood Skull and Dragonfly Tabletop Crystal Cabinet - A Séance Reading Room Find - The Voodoo Estate
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Product Description
24" Pinewood Skull and Dragonfly Tabletop, Three Drawer Crystal Cabinet
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It has now been nearly twenty-three years ago since we were called to do an estate that had been closed up for seventeen years!
The Voodoo Estate!
This type of call usually gets us excited as they are a treasure trove. Located here in Florida, there was no electricity or running water so we rigged our own lighting and in we went. If you have ever seen the Adams Family you will have some idea as to what we were greeted with! Then the attorney handling the liquidation gave us some background. The estate had belonged to an alleged powerful Voodoo Priestess/JooJoo Exorcist, grand daughter of a Marie Laveau, and favored daughter of a Marie Glapion.These names meant nothing to us, but the late night talk of Voodoo and exorcism in the old mansion was enough to make us decide to spend the night in a hotel and return in the morning to assess the estate. The rest is history. Our research has shown that this woman was what she claimed and was indeed descended from a long line of well known Vodoun family originating in New Orleans in the early 1800's.
We were pretty unnerved by this until we discovered they were also devout Catholics! Although I have to admit this was unlike any Catholic home we have ever been in and some of the items found inside were a little more than disturbing. Although there was no feeling of dread or unwelcome in the mansion, there was quite a bit of contraband and other items we can or will not sell here.
This is one of a few pieces from this estate we will be listing this week, so check our other listings.
We will, upon the new guardian's request, issue a named Letter of Authenticity with each lot from this estate, complying with the terms set forth to us by the estate's attorney.
Some Back Story
This three drawer cabinet was recovered from a tabletop in her main séance and reading room. These rooms were a commercial endeavor that had a wealthy following and it is where many of the major séances of this estate were conducted. Many, if not all of her associates worked the rooms, conducting séances, card readings and numerous forms of divination for their clientele. Apparently this was a lucrative endeavor, as it remained active for over six decades.Her journals list a host of well known psychics, mediums and other celebrities that would make guest appearances and that these events were booked to capacity well in advance.
The Cabinet
When found, this skull and dragonfly portable cabinet housed an assortment of crystal formations they primarily used in divination. Some of the drawers were marked with paper tags with numbers corresponding to those in her journaled inventory which detailed the source and history of the crystals.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that she did the same with the cabinet itself, as we have not found any journal or inventory mention of its history or its maker. This may be attributed to damaged and missing ledgers. It is first mentioned in March of 1980 telling of it being fitted with the dragonfly and skull pulls and a blessing ceremony when the crystals it would house were relegated to it.
She does attribute the dragonfly pulls as a visualization aid in spirit transference and communication referring to them as Shoryo Tombo and the skull as Memento Mori.
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Shoryo Tombo
This was a new term which we had never heard used before. She tells us, "here we have the images of Shoryo Tombo, the Dragonfly of the Dead. This is an ancient mythical creature of Bon origin that predates Buddhism. The spirits of the dead, carried by Shoryo Tombo, returning the spirits home where they are reunited with their families.
A brief article from the Minneapolis Institute of Art tells us;
In Japan, the dragonfly is a national emblem. In fact, Japan used to be called Akitsushima, or Dragonfly Island. The long, rainy summer season and numerous rivers and streams provide ideal living conditions for dragonflies, which spend the early stages of their life in the water. More than 190 dragonfly species can be found in Japan.
In Japanese culture, the dragonfly has many meanings. It symbolizes the summer season, success, victory, happiness, strength, and courage. Long ago, Japanese farmers believed the presence of dragonflies in their fields meant an abundant rice harvest. Among the samurai, or warrior class, the dragonfly was a favorite emblem for decorating armor and helmets. Throughout the homes of noblemen, dragonfly images appeared in paintings and on porcelain, furniture, and fabrics.
The mythical creature Shoryo Tombo (Dragonfly of the Dead) is associated with the Japanese festival Bon. During this Buddhist festival, people honor their ancestors. The spirits of the dead, carried by Shoryo Tombo, return home to be reunited with their families.
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According to her inventory, these drawer pulls are some of the many she purchased locally at a shop they frequented named The Barefoot Mailman. The name of the store was a homage to South Florida's "barefoot mailmen." Between 1885 and 1892, when no roads existed between Palm Beach and Miami, they delivered mail on foot, along a 68 mile route. Described as "Spencers on steroids," there is a web and Facebook page dedicated to them.
The skull pull is cast clear resin measuring approximately 1 5/8" x 1 1/16" x 1 5/8".
The dragonfly pulls are cast bronze with an applied patina. They measure approximately 3 3/4" x 2 7/16" x 3/16".
The cabinet itself is made from 3/4" stock and measures approximately 24" in length x 12 3/4" in height x 7" in width and weighs 13 lbs., 1 oz.
In use, we find the drawers to stick if not opened and closed evenly as the fit tolerances are very close.
There are a few stains, but no signs of damage or repair. Unmarked, it's maker remains a mystery.
We have been contacted and visited by a number of people who were interested in the items from this estate since our first batch was listed. Among the buyers have been known psychics and practitioners. More than one, after adorning themselves or handling their purchase, stated "this is a woman of power!" Many of our clients, after receiving items from this estate have reported dream contacts and other unexplained phenomenon.
Unusual, authentic Voodoo Priestess Estate piece and at a bargain price!
This is truly a rare opportunity to own anything with attributes to this estate. The majority of this estate is now gone. Most of what we had left, and it was considerable, has been split up and sold to a couple of private, foreign collector practitioners and will never be available to the public again. We made the decision to do this as we have had some pretty strange visits from even stranger individuals and there have been enough unexplained phenomenon going on in the warehouse where her things were kept that many of our employees refused to go in there.
The pieces offered and sold here are some of the few remaining pieces that will ever be offered to the public.
Nice addition to any collection, altar, wardrobe or decor, displays really well.
Really doesn't get any better than this.
There are 9 photographs below to tell the rest of this tale.
Buyer to pay $0.00 for USPS Insured Ground Advantage (Scenic Route) Mail with Unreliable Tracking and our own brilliant handling with lagniappe.
Rest assured your order will be carefully packed to withstand the onslaught of the most deranged of Postal Workers.
International Buyer's, Please email us for a Shipping Quote.
Payment is due at listing end. Check our other listings, and sign up for our newsletter as new items are usually listed daily.
©Text and Photos Copyright 2001-2024 bushidobuce, all rights reserved.
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Props are not part of the deal, but you knew that already.
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