It has now been just over twenty-three years ago since we were called to do an estate that had been closed up for seventeen years!

The Voodoo Estate!

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 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.

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Some Back Story

This is the fourth of the eighteen Thai vermeil and gemstone rings that were found and recovered from a commercial, ring rack display in a cabinet 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 many pairs of earrings 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.

Aunt Nadiene   
Although not a blood Aunt, she had been "taken into the fold as a child found" by her "mother" as she was said to refer to Marie Glapion.  Further chronological investigation revealed her to be the daughter of a prostitute that was in her mother's (Marie Glapion) employ.  Other notes found might lead one to believe her mother was an Algul. Described as a vampiric jinn like creature they claimed to have encountered in remote desert regions. 
Our own research has not revealed very much other than Algul literally translates to "horse-leech," or "blood-sucking Jinn."  An example was found in the 'Thousand and One Nights' as Amine.  Although a drinker of blood, it is a Jinn, or demon that was never human.  Unkillable by most means, it can be destroyed by fire and sometimes magic.  Most inhabited unchartable regions of desert, but oil production has driven them from their homes and she claims "they live among us, posing no threat to adults save sexual fulfillment, but they must be watched around children and livestock."

 

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It is not clear if Aunt Nadiene was abandoned by her mother or if the mother died, orphaning the girl, but she was apparently treated and referred to as a family member, indoctrinated along with her "niece," and for many years she was her traveling companion and guardian.

 

Her journals note of Aunt Nadiene's passing in 1966.

She also notes of wearing Aunt Nadiene's jewelry, "Connected to her so closely in life, it awakens psychic qualities with a feeling of devotional joy to wear them."

Other journal entries allege incidents of Aunt Nadiene, "owl shape shifting," claiming the Great Horned Owl as being her spirit guide or token spirit animal, and because of this, her taking due care in the handling of owls in her bird and reptile ceremonies, not submitting them to the torturous ceremonial deaths many other species endured during these ceremonies.

 She goes on to note of a number of dreams in which a Great Horned Owl wearing her aunt's jewelry would appear to her.  They also go into detail of her gazing into her stones (sphere's), to draw upon Aunt Nadiene's power to help her in this life.

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The Ring, Its Components and Commentary 

 

Examination reveals a well made 22k white and yellow gold vermeil, feline motif ring displaying four 3 x 5 mm faceted marquis blue tanzanite gems as the cat's eyes, ten 2.3 mm, faceted round tanzanite gems as the cat's spots with five 1.3 mm faceted round rhodolite garnet gems set in one of the leopard's ring, all of which are further described below.

 We believe the ring was a catalog item among the jewelers of Chanthaburi with the options being choice of metals and gemstones.  This is a popular regional design motif that we have encountered many times pre and post dating our acquisition of this estate by many years.  Similar jewelry is still being produced by the jewelers of Chanthaburi today. Chanthaburi is a well known center of semi-precious stones and jewelry.  It was once famous for its ruby and sapphire mines, but most of Chanthaburi's mines have been mined out since the 1980s.  Today it is an industry leader in colored stone processing, including gemstone treatments, enhancements, cutting and polishing.  Nearly 70% of the world's entire supply of rubies and sapphires pass through Chanthaburi.  Their journals tell us these pieces of jewelry were chosen for their design and combinations of metal and gemstones. ~!~ 

Gold Vermeil

 

Gold Vermeil refers to electroplated silver (described below), using gold of different fineness.  The US. minimum required karatage is 10K (42% of pure gold) and with a thickness of at least 2.5 microns (0.0025 millimeters) and being made up entirely of two precious metals (silver and gold).  Vermeil jewelry therefore has a greater intrinsic value than gold plated jewelry with a thicker plating of the gold over sterling silver.

 

Gold plating is a method of depositing a layer of gold onto a conductive surface.  The piece in base metal to be gold plated is immerged in an electrolyte solution with particles of gold which are deposited onto the surface of the base metal thanks to a current.  This is the same technique used to form gold vermeil; in vermeil a layer of at least 2.5 microns of gold (also referred to as “heavy gold plating”) is deposited onto silver.

 

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 Sterling Silver and Gold

More often than not, their metal of choice was silver as she notes, "Silver is the mirror of the soul related to the moon energies.  It strengthens connections of the astral and physical bodies.  A metal unmatched in its psychic energies and healing abilities, I have used it as a spell medium, to heal the speech impaired and to help public speakers achieve eloquence.  Induced into the drink, it has expelled the toxins that caused headaches, arthritis, intestinal and blood disorders.  More importantly it attracts, enhances and stores energies of gemstones, driving out negative energies the stone may have absorbed."

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 Tanzanite Gems

The four faceted marquis tanzanite gems have been bezel set as eyes and are of fair to good cut and pale blue color.  They have eye visible inclusions assuring they are untreated, natural stones.  The ten faceted round tanzanite gems have been prong set as the leopard's spots of this ring are of very good to fine cut and color with loupe visible inclusions.

Some of her journal entries concerning Tanzanite read; "I find that wearing it against the skin assuages certain destructive urges we seem to foster.  This gemstone brings with it an awareness of this."

"This is a soothing energy source that aids in recovery from illness, injury and stress.  I have also used it in ridding sleep of fitful unremembered dreams.  It is regenerative and affects the internal organs causing them to purge accumulated toxins."

"Here is an excellent crystal for use in exploring your psychic abilities, as it enhances them slightly, and gives a distinct awareness while affording a level of protection.  Its soothing energy slowly opens the chakra which prevents psychic and demonic impressions from merging, alleviating the ensuing panic and confusion."

"during normal everyday wear, I find these small gems soothing and find myself able to avoid communication disasters and readily able to solve problems."

"Here is an interesting characteristic of this stone.  It is an omnidirectional key that opens and closes the third chakra.  Rotating the stone clockwise about the third eye opens it, while reversing direction, in a counterclockwise motion will close it."
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The Rhodolite Garnet Gems

The five faceted round rhodolite garnet gems used in the snow leopard's ring have been prong set and are of fine cut with predominantly red/pink color.  These are very nice stones that are eye clean, displaying  a very desirable color and an abundance of flash.

Of rhodolite garnet she writes; "vivid dream stones of past life remembrance.  These are energies of love and life that enhance these within us.  It cleanses and renews, comforts and protects, doing well for those in need of self respect and courage."

 

"Assuredly dream work stones that have been aggressive in past life recall with strong tendencies to formulate love and bonding."

 

"The stone draws happiness and is an aid to sexuality sharpening perceptions to allow creative energies to whet the sexual appetite.  If worn during cycle it will help to control a bad months flow.

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But Back to the Ring

According to her inventory entry of these distinct jewelry pieces of feline depictions are that of the Snow Leopard, a large cat indigenous to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, yet lacking in folklore as our research revealed.

 

Snow Leopard Conservancy

Myths and Legends

 

Nepalese Myths Surrounding Snow Leopards

 

The snow lion, who lives in the Glaciers of the Himalaya, is a mythical creature of the Buddhist realm. From Observations on Conservation of Snow Leopards in Nepal, by Som B. Ale and Bhaskar S. Karky.

 

In the northerly societies of Nepal many indigenous beliefs and shamanistic practices, reflecting local pre-Buddhist traditions, were incorporated and subsequently reworked into the Buddhist pantheon and ritual system.  One such ritual in Manang connected to the snow leopard and its depredation forbids alpine herders to roast meat, for otherwise the mountain god will send its “dog”, (i.e. snow leopard) and one has to suffer livestock losses.

 

In Dolpo there are stories of great lamas frequently making trips to Tibet in the form of snow leopards, in search of rare medicinal herbs.  Other folklore describes the snow leopard as a “fence” for the crops, meaning that in the absence of snow leopards livestock would be free ranging and thus would invade crop fields.

 

Local inhabitants still believe that snow leopards (and domestic cats) are considered to have taken birth particularly to remove the sins of their past lives, and killing these animals means having their sins transferred to your own life.

 

In Mustang, killing a snow leopard is considered to be more sinful than its prey species (for instance blue sheep), because all sins it has committed during its lifetime by killing its prey will then be transferred to you.

 

Copyright © 2011 Snow Leopard Conservancy, reprinted with permission.

All Rights Reserved

 

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Once again, Back to the Ring

The ring is marked "925" with no maker's or assay marks, and tests as .925 Sterling Silver Standard.

 

It is a ring size 8 3/4 and the ring face measures approximately 7/8" x 15/16" x 3/8", and weighs 8 grams.

It is certainly a nicely aged figural ring with an extraordinary provenance that are 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 below to tell the rest of this tale.

Buyer to pay $0.00 for Insured Ground Shipping with Tracking, handling and lagniappe.

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Payment is due at listing end. Check our other listings, and sign up for our newsletter as new items are usually posted daily.

©Text and Photos Copyright 2001-2025 bushidobuce, all rights reserved. 

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