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 somewhat 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 unnerving.

  There was no feeling of dread or unwelcome in the mansion, however 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 piece from this estate, complying with the terms set forth to us by the estate's attorney. 

 Some Back Story

 This is one of the two hundred and twelve assorted pieces of Thai vermeil and gemstone jewelry that were recovered from a jewelry salesman's sample case sitting on the floor in the storage closet that served 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 this room, 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.

 Her journaled inventory tells us this is one of the rings her Aunt Nadiene had made for her by a Thai jeweler of Chanthaburi in 1956/57.  This jeweler had copied a handful of gold and gemstone rings in vermeil, many of which were gifted and inherited by her niece.

 While there, she purchased a sizable quantity of jewelry to be sent home for resale to their clients.  Often times claiming to cast spells or attach spirits to a piece of jewelry at a client's request.

 

Although silver was her usual metal of choice, sometimes, as in this case, gold was used and she notes, "Gold transmits and conducts energies extremely well.  It balances these energy fields and is beneficial in the third eye and crown meditations.  It removes negative energies and brings in the positive from the stones it is with.  It is a mineral of spirituality, understanding and attunement."

~!~ She does tell us, "the stones used in this ring are host to a long list of metaphysical properties."

The Fire Opal Gems 

The single, 4.7625 and 6.35 mm, faceted round fire opal gems are prong set in the dargon's mouth and third eye.  These faceted round opals are of very good cut and fine polish with a fiery internal green/red/gold opalescent flash.

In her notes she writes of fire opal; "These stones bear an energy that is predisposed for use in magic spells.  They achieve invisibility for us against all malicious magic and are a source of protection in themselves."

"A money draw, it is as if a magnet to draw in wealth.  It is also a healer and a stone of protection.  It can be relied upon to relieve deficiencies of energy while stimulating the libido and adrenal glands."

She goes on to describe, "Susto, Mal puesto and Mal ojo works" one of her sources of fire opal were involved in with a number of journal entries which describe the cause and symptoms of these spells, such as; "Susto is a fright sickness caused by traumatic and frightening experiences often emplaced during the victim's dream state.  Look for insomnia, lethargy, depression, irritability and anxiety as symptoms.  Effective treatment can be affected by covering the head with a Holy Water immersed cloth keeping it moist with periodic sprinkling in addition to spitting alcohol into the patients face unexpectedly and irrigating them internally with herbs."

She writes of "Mal ojo" as being, "the evil eye cast by one blessed with the strong eye.  Those that admire children without touching them are easily afflicted.  The symptoms here are often diffuse so it is best to attempt cure by passing a fresh laid egg over the patient's entire body before placing it in a bowl under the patient's pillow overnight.  In the morning, if the egg is cooked then treatment for mal de ojo in order."

 She also writes of "Mal puesto" as the, "use of sorcery to invoke disease.  This is a true hex used by bruja throughout Mexico, Central and South America.  Here the Symptoms vary, as does the cure.  This involves, massage, herbal treatment, prayers and invocation chants performed in conjunction with arm crossing (anointing with oil and chili powder in the sign of the cross) and herbal pepper enemas."

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Our own experience with fire opal has revealed that fire opal is a variety of opal that usually has a bright yellow, bright orange or bright red background color.  They receive their name from their fiery background color.  Precious Opal is a name given to any opal that exhibits “play-of-color,” a flashing display of spectral colors when the opal is “played” under a light source. 

 Because of its play-of-color and its white body color, the opal in this ring could be called a "precious fire opal."

 A few specimen of fire opal exhibit “play-of-color.”  These specimens have both the fiery background color of a fire opal and the play-of-color of a precious opal.  Some people call these special stones “precious fire opal.”  The play-of-color can be tiny bright flashes of color when the opal is played under light, or a billowing glow contained within the stone.  

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The Emerald Gems 

 Set as the dragon's eyes, these 1.7 mm bezel set emerald gems are of a rough faceted round antique cut, highly included and of good matched color.  She does write of her own feelings and observations concerning emerald.  Some of her journal entries read; "Naga stone of meditation with calming, protective energies that enhance all psychic abilities, quite useful in dream enhancement and manipulation.  Well grounded in Femini (her spelling) Earth energies that have no ill and shield against external attacks.  These stones have proven themselves as healers of the love-lorn heart, often leading to life-long relations being saved, with those expressing the deepest of emotions for their partners."

  "here is an energy beyond the laws of nature inherent in the stone.  It is a true prophet stone, so pay heed to the dreams it brings to you." "As a healer, it is a stone of Mercury that effects a cure for epilepsy and other neuro disorders, even tipping the balance against madness."
"There are many divine qualities given with this stone, which accounts for its mention in many of the mythologies.  In the Christian myths, the emerald which Satan carried in his forehead fell to the ground and created the Holy Grail when he was cast out of Paradise.  Hermes recorded the laws of magic upon an emerald tablet.  It is the legendary Markat Mani of Rabbinical legend being one of four precious stones given to King Solomon by God." "It is an aid in meditation and memory loss.  A cure for the lovelorn that reveals truth or falsity of in a lover's oaths."  "This is a powerful money draw, especially for commerce.  When buried beneath the building or as an embed about the entrance, it shows a dramatic results in such a house."

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 The Almandine Garnet Gems

The eighty-two, 1 mm, faceted round almandine garnet gems used in this ring are of good cut and color with minor loupe visible inclusions.  The gems display an abundance of flash and have been prong set.

 

Almandine is the most common of garnet gemstones and an individual mineral of the Garnet group.  It is usually opaque and unfit for use as a gemstone, but when a gem quality specimen is found and cut, it makes a fine gem, such as the ones used in this ring.

 

 Our research has shown Almandine Garnet has a host of folklore connected to it.  Metaphysical practitioners feel it has a grounding energy that is tied to the Earth’s energies.  It is known in many cultures as a protective talisman.

 

New Age healers feel it is a strong regenerative healing crystal that affords strength, stamina, aids the circulatory system and strengthens the blood of one who wears it!  It is associated with the First Chakra and with having a healing energy that stimulates the Kundalini.

 

It is a zodiac stone for Aquarius, and believed to be a talisman of protection.

 

The journal entries of three of the women associated with this estate indicate they used it as a fertility and sex charm and felt wearing it stimulated their libido,

 

Metaphysical practitioners claim to use it to cast love spells and wear it for psychic protection.

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But Back to the Ring

 It's Chinese dragon depiction is heaped in regional folklore.

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Chinese Dragon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for the most part...

 

Chinese dragons, also known as East Asian dragons, are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and East Asian culture at large.  Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs.  They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods.  The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it in East Asian culture.  During the days of Imperial China, the Emperor of China usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial strength and power.

 

In Chinese culture, excellent and outstanding people are compared to a dragon, while incapable people with no achievements are compared to other, disesteemed creatures, such as a worm.  A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to a dragon, such as "Hoping one's son will become a dragon."

 

Historically, the Chinese dragon was associated with the Emperor of China and used a symbol to represent imperial power.  The founder of Han dynasty Liu Bang claimed that he was conceived after his mother dreamt of a dragon . During the Tang dynasty, Emperors wore robes with dragon motif as an imperial symbol, and high officials might also be presented with dragon robes.  In the Yuan dynasty, the two-horned five-clawed dragon was designated for use by the Son of Heaven or Emperor only, while the four-clawed dragon was used by the princes and nobles . Similarly during the Ming and Qing dynasty, the five-clawed dragon was strictly reserved for use by the Emperor only.  The dragon in the Qing dynasty appeared on the first Chinese national flag.

 

The dragon is sometimes used in the West as a national emblem of China though such use is not commonly seen in the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China.  Instead, it is generally used as the symbol of culture.  In Hong Kong, the dragon was a component of the coat of arms under British rule.  It was later to become a feature of the design of Brand Hong Kong, a government promotional symbol.

 

The Chinese dragon has very different connotations from the European dragon – in European cultures, the dragon is a fire-breathing creature with aggressive connotations, whereas the Chinese dragon is a spiritual and cultural symbol that represents prosperity and good luck, as well as a rain deity that fosters harmony.  It was reported that the Chinese government decided against using the dragon as its official 2008 Summer Olympics mascot because of the aggressive connotations that dragons have outside of China, and chose more "friendly" symbols instead.

 

Naga

More from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, for the most part...

 

Naga (IAST: naga; Devanagari) or Nagi (f. of naga; IAST: nagi; Devanagari ) is a Sanskrit word which basically refers to a "serpent" or "snake", especially the King cobra.  The term Naga in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism denotes divine, semi-divine deities, or a semi-divine race of half-human half-serpent beings that resides in the heavenly Patala (netherworld) and can occasionally take human form.  They are principally depicted in three forms: wholly humans with snakes on the heads and necks; common serpents or as half-human half-snake beings.  A female naga is a "nagi", "nagin", or "nagini."  Nagaraja is seen as the king of nagas and naginis.  They are common and hold cultural significance in the mythological traditions of many South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures.

 

In Sanskrit, a nagá is a cobra, the Indian cobra (Naja naja).  There are several words for "snake" in general, and one of the very commonly used ones is sarpá.  Sometimes the word nagá is also used generically to mean "snake."  The word is cognate with English 'snake', Germanic: *snek-a-, Proto-IE: *(s)neg-o- (with s-mobile).

 

The mythological serpent race that took form as cobras often can be found in Hindu iconography.  The nagas are described as the powerful, splendid, wonderful and proud semidivine race that can assume their physical form either as human, partial human-serpent or the whole serpent.  Their domain is in the enchanted underworld, the underground realm filled with gems, gold and other earthly treasures called Naga-loka or Patala-loka.  They are also often associated with bodies of waters — including rivers, lakes, seas, and wells — and are guardians of treasure.  Their power and venom made them potentially dangerous to humans.  However, they often took beneficial protagonist role in Hindu mythology, such as in Samudra manthan mythology, Vasuki, a nagaraja who abides on Shiva's neck, became the churning rope for churning of the Ocean of Milk.  Their eternal mortal enemies are the Garudas, the legendary semidivine birdlike-deity.

 

Vishnu is originally portrayed in the form sheltered by naga or reclining on one, but the iconography has been extended to other deities as well.  The serpent is a common feature in Ganesha iconography and appears in many forms: around the neck, use as a sacred thread (Sanskrit: yajñyopavita) wrapped around the stomach as a belt, held in a hand, coiled at the ankles, or as a throne.  Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake.  Maehle (2006: p. 297) states that "Patanjali is thought to be a manifestation of the serpent of eternity."

 

As in Hinduism, the Buddhist naga generally has the form of a great cobra, usually with a single head but sometimes with many.  At least some of the nagas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance.  The naga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head.  One naga, in human form, attempted to become a monk; and when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a human, and so able to become a monk.

 

In the "Devadatta" chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the daughter of the dragon king, an eight year old longnü (naga), after listening to Mañjusri preach the Lotus Sutra, transforms into a male Bodhisattva and immediately reaches full enlightenment.  This tale appears to reinforce the viewpoint prevalent in Mahayana scriptures that a male body is required for Buddhahood, even if a being is so advanced in realization that they can magically transform their body at will and demonstrate the emptiness of the physical form itself.

 

Nagas are believed to both live on Mount Meru, among the other minor deities, and in various parts of the human-inhabited earth.  Some of them are water-dwellers, living in streams or the ocean; others are earth-dwellers, living in underground caverns.

 

The nagas are the followers of Virupakkha, one of the Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction.  They act as a guard upon Mount Sumeru, protecting the devas from attack by the asuras.

 

Among the notable nagas of Buddhist tradition is Mucalinda, Nagaraja and protector of the Buddha.  In the Vinaya Sutra (I, 3), shortly after his enlightenment, the Buddha is meditating in a forest when a great storm arises, but graciously, King Mucalinda gives shelter to the Buddha from the storm by covering the Buddha's head with his seven snake heads.  Then the king takes the form of a young Brahmin and renders the Buddha homage.

 

It is noteworthy that the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Sariputta and Moggallana are both referred to as Mahanaga or "Great Naga."  Some of the most important figures in Buddhist history symbolize nagas in their names such as Dignaga, Nagasena, and, although other etymons are assigned to his name, Nagarjuna.

 

In the Vajrayana and Mahasiddha traditions, nagas in their half-human form are depicted holding a naga-jewel, kumbhas of amrita, or a terma that had been elementally encoded by adepts.

 

According to tradition, Prajñaparamita sutras had been given by the Buddha to a great Naga who guarded them in the sea, and were conferred upon Nagarjuna later.

 

In Thailand and Java, the naga is a wealthy underworld deity.  For Malay sailors, nagas are a type of dragon with many heads.  In Laos they are beaked water serpents.

 

The seven-headed nagas often depicted as guardian statues, carved as balustrades on causeways leading to main Cambodian temples, such as those found in Angkor Wat.  Apparently they represent the seven races within naga society, which has a mythological, or symbolic, association with "the seven colors of the rainbow."  Furthermore, Cambodian naga possess numerological symbolism in the number of their heads.  Odd-headed naga symbolize the Male Energy, Infinity, Timelessness, and Immortality.  This is because, numerologically, all odd numbers come from One.  Even-headed naga are said to be "Female, representing Physicality, Mortality, Temporality, and the Earth."

 

In Javanese and Balinese culture, Indonesia, a naga is depicted as a crowned, giant, magical serpent, sometimes winged.  It is similarly derived from the Shiva-Hinduism tradition, merged with Javanese animism.  Naga in Indonesia mainly derived and influenced by Indic tradition, combined with the native animism tradition of sacred serpents.  In Sanskrit the term naga literally means snake, but in Java it normally refer to serpent deity, associated with water and fertility.  In Borobudur, the nagas are depicted in their human form, but elsewhere they are depicted in animal shape.

 

Early depictions of circa-9th-century Central Java closely resembled Indic Naga which was based on cobra imagery.  During this period, naga serpents were depicted as giant cobras supporting the waterspout of yoni-lingam.  The examples of naga sculpture can be found in several Javanese candis, including Prambanan, Sambisari, Ijo, and Jawi.  In East Java, the Penataran temple complex contain a Candi Naga, an unusual naga temple with its Hindu-Javanese caryatids holding corpulent nagas aloft.

 

The later depiction since the 15th century, however, was slightly influenced by Chinese dragon imagery—although unlike its Chinese counterparts, Javanese and Balinese nagas do not have legs.  Naga as the lesser deity of earth and water is prevalent in the Hindu period of Indonesia, before the introduction of Islam.

 

In Balinese tradition, nagas are often depicted battling Garuda.  Intricately carved naga are found as stairs railings in bridges or stairs, such as those found in Balinese temples, Ubud monkey forest, and Taman Sari in Yogyakarta.

 

In a wayang theater story, a snake (naga) god named Sanghyang Anantaboga or Antaboga is a guardian deity in the bowels of the earth. Naga symbolize the nether realm of earth or underworld.

 

Naga are believed to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong or its estuaries.  Lao mythology maintains that the naga are the protectors of Vientiane, and by extension, the Lao state.  The naga association was most clearly articulated during and immediately after the reign of Anouvong.  An important poem from this period San Leupphasun discusses relations between Laos and Thailand in a veiled manner, using the naga and the garuda to represent the Lao and the Thai, respectively.  The naga is incorporated extensively into Lao iconography, and features prominently in Lao culture throughout the length of the country, not only in Vientiane.

 

In Malay and Orang Asli traditions, the lake Chini, located in Pahang is home to a naga called Sri Gumum.  Depending on legend versions, her predecessor Sri Pahang or her son left the lake and later fought a naga called Sri Kemboja.  Kemboja is the Malay name for Cambodia.  Like the naga legends there, there are stories about an ancient empire in lake Chini, although the stories are not linked to the naga legends.

 

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Once again, Back to the Ring!

It is a well made dragon motif ring done in white and yellow gold vermeil and set with fire opal, emerald and almandine garnet gems as described above.  It is marked "925" with no maker's or assay marks.  The ring tests as .925 Sterling Silver Standard.

 

It is a ring size 8 1/4 and the ring face measures approximately  1 1/4" x 3/4" x 5/8" and weighs 10.2 grams.

It is certainly a nicely aged vintage ring with an extraordinary provenance that is much nicer than our photographer has been able to depict.

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 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 customers, 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, wardrobe or decor, displays really well.

 Really doesn't get any better than this.

 There are 10 photographs, so please give them time to load, and enjoy the listing.

 Buyer to pay $0.00 for Insured USPS Ground Mail with Tracking, handling and 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. 

You are buying the ring shown and described only.  The props are not included, but you knew that already.

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