~ Voodoo Priestess Estate ~ ©

Italian Alabaster Trinket Box with Moon Charged Vermeil and Ruby Jewelry Contents

A Master Suite Find

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Twenty-three years have now passed 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 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 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 lots from this estate we hope to be posting 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.

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Some Back Story 

This is one of nineteen, named "window charging boxes" recovered from a bureau in her master suite.  Through her journals and inventory, we have been able to piece together that this box and its companions, would periodically be placed in hidden window boxes that allowed her to control their exposure to the sun and or moon.  She claimed that bathing them, or rather the boxed contents, in the rays of the sun, moon, and/or stars at certain specified times would have a cleansing and or 'charging' affect on them.

 The Box

Her journals and inventory tell us this box is one of the many items that were purchased, and/or stolen from three unnamed local gift shops.  Although those associated with this estate were mostly generous, they would often steal things which they not only found to be amusing, they believed it imbued the stolen items with magical properties they were able to manipulate.

Examination reveals an oval, alabaster trinket box with a floral lithograph decal motif and displaying the remnants of it's original foiled tag and an unknown, nearly obliterated  writing in black ink on the bottom.

The box measures approximately 4" x 2 5/8" x 2 7/8" and weighs 10 oz.

The finish on the box appears to be applied and deteriorated.  Possibly the result of sitting in the sun?  Whatever the cause, the jewelry contained within was not affected.  There are no other signs of damage or repair.

She goes on to tell us, "these boxes have been known to attract spirits that will set up residence in them and their contents, but they are rarely permanent.  Having them about or while traveling has them proven as spirit houses."

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The Contents
and minor commentary

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Aunt Nadiene's Mid Century Thai Jewelry 

The two pair of earrings and single ring found in this box are some of the many Thai gemstone jewelry lots that were recovered from this estate with the vast majority being found in and around her main séance and reading rooms.  These however she chose for her own use in this box.

 Her journaled inventory tells us her Aunt Nadiene had them 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 in Thailand, 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. ~!~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 Jewelry, Its Components and Commentary 

 

Examination reveals two pair of earrings and a matching ring which are nicely made in 22k white gold vermeil with, ruby, yellow sapphire and opal gems and cabochons described in further detail below.
 

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."~!~

 We believe these are examples of catalog items among the jewelers of Chanthaburi with the options being choice of metals and gemstones.  They are popular regional designs 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. ~!~

 

The Ring

The 4.78 mm faceted round ruby gem used in this ring is of very good cut and color with eye visible inclusions. 

The ring is marked "S925" with no maker's or assay mark, and tests as .925 Sterling Silver Standard. There is some confusion concerning this hallmark.  This is due to our friends, the Chinese.  This mark has been used by the jewelers of Thailand for over sixty years.  Technically, it is short-hand for ‘Sterling 925', but the past and present masters of producing varying quality knock offs of absolutely everything have caused this confusion to this day.

It is a ring size 8 1/4 and the ring weighs 1.7 grams.

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The Earrings

 

There are two pair of earrings in the box.  Examination of the pair on the right pictured above, reveals well made white gold vermiel lever-back settings each displaying four, 4.5 mm faceted round ruby gems of fair to good cut and very good color.  These are highly included and treated stones that are evenly matched for size and color.  The gems are prong set and tight in their settings.

They are also marked S925 with no maker's or assay marks and test as .925 Sterling Silver Standard.

The face of each earring measures approximately 3/4" x 3/16" and they have a combined weight of 4 grams.

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And finally we have the ruby, yellow sapphire and opal earrings pictured below and on the left above.  They are also white gold vermeil lever back settings in a raised basket design, each of which is set with a 7.95 x 6.35 x 3.18 mm,  1.28 ct. faceted oval ruby gem of fine cut and color.  All of the ruby gems in these pieces of jewelry appear to be from the same source.  They have been teated to reduce inclusions and enhance color, yet, they are still  eye included.

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Some of her journal entries concerning rubies read; "Their color brings light and change into your world.” 

 

“Wear it to shed the body of toxins.”  "they have proven useful in relieving all ailments." "These contain life force residual of divine nature.  They spell well in making peace and as protectorates, warding sorcery and poison." "When worn they spell over great and specific distance."

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The Yellow Sapphire Gems

There are thirty-nine, .90 mm faceted round sapphire gems that we have finally agreed upon as being predominantly yellow in color with strong orange hues that appear to be color change under various angles of light, picking up colors from surrounding objects. 

These were a first encounter with color change sapphires and our own research revealed this blurb on the Brilliant Earth website which states these stones are chameleons as their color shifts under different lighting.  In the daylight, they may be a blue to violet hue, while under incandescent light, they may be a violetish purple or reddish purple. These variations are rare and increasingly coveted as a unique alternative to more standard sapphire colors.

The gems, albeit small, have been prong set and are of fine cut with loupe visible rutile inclusions which guarantees their being natural, untreated stones with an abundant flash.

Her notes also indicate sapphire with this range of color has a broad spectrum of powerful metaphysical properties and when worn during trials helped her to determine the truth. She goes on to write; "Well charged its energies increase awareness and intuition on both the physical and non-physical planes, but I must caution its use inspires ambition.  It protects one from physical harm, strengthens loyalty and honesty to those exposed to it.  But its strongest energies aid in meditation and enhance one's own spiritual and mental powers."
Another entry reads; "One's understanding is enhanced markedly by an increased level of self-confidence and amplification of one's psychic energies when these stones are worn.  This energy will neutralize negative energies in its sphere of influence while dispelling the fear and grief associated with loves lost in death or disassociation.  They relax the physical and nonphysical self and have proven useful in treating anxiety, infectious disease, sepsis and most sleep and heart disorders, leaving the suffering at peace and ease.  These are stones of inspiration when used in love matters, especially from the emotional turmoilencountered."
"Here are the benevolent blessings of Jupiter.  It ensures wealth and the blessings of love as well as being a charm of protection.  When facing monetary or property losses, prescribing this to be worn for the blessings it brings will remove these difficulties." "This stone has been used extensively by our kind since antiquity, and we attribute numerous properties to it and to its use.  It empowers the leader and the healer in making decisions and bestows financial gain on one who wears it.  Its healing properties are renown as it heals the mentally, spiritually, and physically afflicted."
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The Fire Opal Cabochons

The Pair of 1.25 mm, high dome fire opal cabochons are prong set to the left and right of the rubies in each of these earrings.  These small opals are of very good grind and fine polish with a predominantly internal green 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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They are marked 925 with no maker's or assay marks and test as .925 Sterling Silver Standard.

The face of each earring measures approximately 11/16" x 9/16" x 5/6" and they have a combined weight of 5.2 grams.

And that concludes the lengthy writeup of this unusual collection of what is certainly an unusual spell box and its contents with an extraordinary provenance that is much nicer than 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 made available 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 or decor that displays really well.  Really doesn't get any better than this.
There are 13 photographs below and we hope you enjoy the listing.

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

Rest assured your order will be carefully packed to withstand the onslaught of the most deranged of carriers.

 

International Buyer's, Please email us for a Shipping Quote.

Payment is due at listing end.

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

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Box and Contents Only - Props Are Not Part Of The Deal, but you knew that already.

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