~ Voodoo Priestess Estate ~ ©

Bali Sterling Silver "The Open Book" Mala Bracelet 

A Master Suite Find

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

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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 for us 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.

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.

These are some of a few pieces from this estate we will be listing this week, so check our other items.

 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.

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Some Back Story

This bracelet is one of the artifacts her journals and inventory attribute as her personal property.   Made for her own use, it is one of those recovered from a jewelry armoire in her master suite that contained a well inventoried selection of ritually worn jewelry.

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The Bracelet 

These, 'all silver' bracelets in this group, are all said to have been worn, alone and, or in conjunction with others during evocation rituals.  Essentially, it is, as described, a mala bracelet, with an "Open Book" charm.   It is a portable means to count repetitive prayer and spell mantra using 'enhanced' silver with a symbolic guru charm.

From the extensive notes we've gathered on this woman, her family and associates, there is no doubt she used it as such and that it accompanied her during many of the rituals conducted at this estate.

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The Sterling Silver 

More often than not, her 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."

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Sanur Pandai Sudra Sterling Silver

The LiDiex journals tell of their dealings with a family of, “Sanur Pandai Sudra” over a four year period of 1957 through 1961.  Some of these entries read, “a family of traditional Balinese smiths and sorcerers, descended from a long line of craftsman sorcerers of Sanur. They are in possession of authentic, ancient Hindu lontars, (Holy inscriptions written on the leaves of the lontar palm) that tell of the mythical history of their arts.”

“They are known locally as pande mas, trained by the Gods."

“Although they are low caste sudra, they are sought out for their work in silver, gold and sorcery.  They claim to be direct descendants of Brahma.”

The word 'pandai' means both 'smith' and 'clever'.

Their journal and inventory entries attribute the straight bar toggle clasp, "Open Book" charm and thirty-three assorted beads and spacers they chose for this bracelet as being obtained from these, "Sanur Pandai Sudra.”

The "Open Book" charm measures approximately 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/8", and is marked 925 with no maker's or assay marks.  All test as .925 Sterling Silver Standard. 

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All of these have been hand knotted and strung with black yak sinew to form this "Open Book" mala bracelet measuring approximately 8.5" in overall length.

The bracelet weighs 32.3 grams.

She writes of the acquisition of a large quantity of this sinew from a "Chinese healer and talisman maker known for and sought for his works," purchased at the Namche Bazaar of Nepal in 1928.

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It is certainly an unusual vintage mala bracelet with an extraordinary provenance, that is much nicer then the photographs have 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, altar, wardrobe or decor, displays really well.

Really doesn't get any better than this.

There are 7 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 outstanding 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.

©Text and Photos Copyright 2001-2024 bushidobuce, all rights reserved.

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