Witch ball stand
19th century
Medium
Glass
Classification
household accessory
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
27257
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts the Americas collection, this 19th-century *Witch Ball Stand* is a delicate glass household accessory crafted by an unknown artist. Designed to hold a shimmering witch ball—a hollow, colorful glass sphere—the stand reflects the era's blend of functionality and folklore. These stands elevated the balls to eye-catching positions in windows or doorways, where they could catch and refract sunlight in mesmerizing patterns. Rooted in European superstitions carried across the Atlantic, witch balls and their stands were believed to ward off evil spirits,...