{"product_id":"rare-antique-petrified-cat-s-head-from-mother-shipton-s-petrifying-well-knaresborough","title":"Rare Antique Petrified Cat’s Head From Mother Shipton’s Petrifying Well Knaresborough","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFREE UK \u0026amp; WORLDWIDE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Rare Antique Petrified Cat’s Head From Mother Shipton’s Petrifying Well In Knaresborough. Housed In Glass Dome With Stand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to medieval superstition, old shoes, bottles, and less commonly cats, were placed into walls, roofs, floorboards or fireplaces to ward off evil spirits. It was quite a widespread practice across the European continent and in some cases the cats had been positioned, indicating that they were already dead at the time of concealment. We believe this specimen falls into this category as the rest of the body is missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs per a sacrifice, perhaps it was hoped that some of the qualities attributed to the cat in life would continue in the afterlife. Cats are alleged to be able to see ghosts and spirits easier than humans (hailing from Egyptian beliefs) and it is possible that it was their job to catch vermin of a more spiritual kind; perhaps the witch’s familiar. George Gifford, writing in 1593, complained of witch’s familiars running about outside. If he’d only had a cat concealed in his walls, a witch-bottle beneath his doorstep and some shoes up his chimney he’d have had much less to worry about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this case, it was another Shipton’s Petrifying Well that was used in this process. Mother Shipton’s Cave (or “Old Mother Shipton’s Cave”) is at Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England, near the River Nidd. Nearby is a petrifying well, also known as a dropping well. The latter is the oldest tourist attraction to charge a fee in England, and has been operated since 1630. The water of the well is so rich in sulphate and carbonate that artefacts may be put in the well to be “petrified” (encrusted) as a tourist attraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis piece was bought privately from a knaresborough resident who was given this curiosity by his late grandfather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rare piece!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is good, commensurate with age. Structurally sound, no issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHead 10.5cm x 7cm x 8cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDome 20cm x 23cm x 14cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/source-vintage.co.uk\/policies\/shipping-policy\" title=\"Shipping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\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\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\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":"Source Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40569184550948,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0259\/1729\/2580\/products\/image_7e8016ab-fe21-4389-ac29-4aca15024985.jpg?v=1673883059","url":"https:\/\/folkandfableantiques.com\/products\/rare-antique-petrified-cat-s-head-from-mother-shipton-s-petrifying-well-knaresborough","provider":"Folk \u0026 Fable Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}