{"product_id":"rare-antique-17th-century-solid-oak-inglenook-beam-end-with-apotropaic-taper-burn","title":"Rare Salvaged Antique 17th Century Solid Oak Inglenook Beam End With Apotropaic Taper Burn","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- FREE UK SHIPPING WITH ALL ORDERS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE PROCEED TO CHECKOUT\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFOR SHIPPING QUOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rare 17th century solid oak inglenook beam end, salvaged directly from a historic farmhouse in Herefordshire, has an exceptionally well preserved apotropaic taper burn. Once forming part of a massive hearth bressummer beam, this beautiful piece of oak  serves as a tangible reminder of how people felt vulnerable and how they went about protecting themselves during the 1600’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaper burns were deliberately created scorches on the wooden beams of homes, used as a form of ritual folk magic to ward off evil spirits, witches, and protect against fire or lightning strikes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey were strategically placed at vulnerable structural entry points, such as fireplaces, doorways, and windows, where a controlled, ritualised burn was believed to spiritually inoculate the timber framed home against fire and evil spirits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries, historians assumed these distinct, tear shaped char marks were accidents caused by unattended candles. However, modern experimental archaeology has proven that they were intentionally crafted by holding a candle or rushlight at a 45 degree angle against the wood for up to 15 minutes, often requiring multiple rounds of burning and scraping to form a deep, permanent indentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" jsaction=\"\" jscontroller=\"TDBkbc#Ml18Xb\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" jsuid=\"mesFJc_b1\" data-hveid=\"CAIIAQgzEAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", \"Helvetica Neue\", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);'\u003e\n\u003cspan data-subtree=\"aimfl\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", \"Helvetica Neue\", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);'\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eYou’ll see it also has examples of scarification. These dense, vertical, and diagonal V-shaped slices were intentionally hacked into the wood using a hatchet or an adze. The rough surface gave the historic lime mortar or plaster a physical, mechanical grip to cling to.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" jsaction=\"\" jscontroller=\"TDBkbc#Ml18Xb\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" jsuid=\"mesFJc_b1\" data-hveid=\"CAIIAQgzEAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", \"Helvetica Neue\", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);'\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt displays magnificently and is a beautiful, solid piece of oak in its own right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is good, commensurate with age and use. Structurally sound. Charred to the back as an inglenook beam should be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures 71cm x 30cm x 22cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeighs 25,650 grams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/source-vintage.co.uk\/policies\/shipping-policy\" title=\"Shipping\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan face=\".SF UI\"\u003eSHIPPING\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/source-vintage.co.uk\/policies\/refund-policy\" title=\"Returns\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan face=\".SF UI\"\u003eRETURNS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Folk \u0026 Fable Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58553544737151,"sku":null,"price":995.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0259\/1729\/2580\/files\/5F0E5133-C2F2-4585-A62B-4EBDB872B7DD.jpg?v=1790505263","url":"https:\/\/folkandfableantiques.com\/products\/rare-antique-17th-century-solid-oak-inglenook-beam-end-with-apotropaic-taper-burn","provider":"Folk \u0026 Fable Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}