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Hagazussa in Glasgow

@hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social

300 followers 400 following 490 posts

Art historian, quarrelsome dame, and folk witch in Scotland. Slowly emerging from the broom closet 🧹 *hagazussa: an early medieval word for witch, later evolving into hex. Cognate with other early words that developed into hag and, possibly, hedge.

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · Aug 8

A re-introduction post: I'm a folk witch and art historian in lovely Scotland (uni faculty currently but soon going independent for better work-life balance). I post about art depictions of the witch, favourite witchy books, historical tarot, and other historical/spooky bits and bobs. Welcome! 🧹🖤🔮📖

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 2d

Some Halloween costume inspiration...

Witch or Sorceress, fancy dress costume design by Leon Sault, 1860s, Victoria and Albert Museum collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O577321...

#WitchSky #WitchAlt #Halloween #Costume

A costume design drawing for a witch or sorceress wearing a tall, pointed hat with a sheer veil hanging down the back, a white dress with applied esoteric and celestial shapes, and a dark blue or black, gold, and pink over-dress with fortune-telling or playing cards decorating the skirt.

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 3d

The BEAUTIFUL 19th-century Tarocco Piemontese (Piedmont Tarot) major arcana by Il Meneghello Edizioni in Milan. The minty green, purple-blue, and pinky strawberry red colours are unique. Features Il Meneghello's pleasantly textured art cardstock #TarotTuesday #WitchAlt #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Strength card, showing a serene-faced woman in a red cloak and wide-brimmed hat, holding open the jaws of a yellow-maned lion that has huge claws.

The tarot box, decorated with the Star card and the publisher Il Meneghello's red wax seal, the beige card backs with a dotted black design, and the Justice, Moon, and Emperor cards (left to right).

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 4d

An article about Lezley Saar's 2022 exhibition, Diorama Drama, in which "tall, dignified, totemic personae represent conjurors...distinctive for their intersections of spirituality, Victorian aesthetics, and African diasporic experience." #WitchSky #FolkMagic #Art

brooklynrail.org/2022/12/arts...

Lezley Saar: Diorama Drama | The Brooklyn Rail

An eerie, somber reverence permeates Lezley Saar’s exhibition Diorama Drama, staged as a mysterious confluence of tableaux formed from elaborate arrangements of mixed-media sculptures, paintings, tape...

brooklynrail.org

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 5d

Source: www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 5d

Things, things, things!

Witches, it seems, have never been minimalists (a historical painting of a sorceress with a clutter of accoutrements and familiars around her).

'An Allegory', Domenico Guidobono, 1710-1720, oil on canvas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain, source ⬇️ #WitchSky

A witch or sorceress, surrounded by friends and the tools of her trade. Draped in red cloth, she sits on a huge, tasselled blue and gold pillow, holding an open grimoire and compass. The grimoire rests atop another book, underneath which is a horse's skull and an indistinct jumble of other objects in shadow. In the background to the right, a cauldron burns with smoking, bubbling contents, below which lies the carcass of a duck. A bat flies through the cauldron smoke. To the left and behind the witch stands chimera, and around her are a cat, dog, and (unusually) a coati. To the left, a child points at the sorceress while looking directly at the viewer. Behind the dog (on the left) is what looks like a massive urn, possibly with plants in it, but at this point it's difficult to capture everything visually.

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 6d

Marionnette puppet, 'Type SM Witch', Pelham Puppets Ltd, 1965-1969, Victoria and Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O7565/t...

#WitchSky #WitchAlt

A marionette witch puppet with multi-coloured strings. She has flyaway white-blond hair, a pointed black hat, black dress with red and white polka dot apron, and a broom. Her mouth grins with gapped teeth.

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 7d

Why yes, I do have a Halloween witch nutcracker. #WitchSky #WitchAlt #Halloween #SpookySeason

A Halloween witch nutcracker with a pointed hat, orange tulle skirt, black broom, purple skin, and a black cat wearing a purple witch's hat.

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 7d

Oh yes, also includes interpretation booklet in French by tarot expert Colette Silvestre!

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 7d

Overdue #TarotTuesday post: Éditions Grancher's reprint of Paul Marteau's 1930 Ancien Tarot de Marseille. Gentler colours than more recent editions. Lovely buttery card stock and great price. Marteau's claim to antiquity aside, it gives really clear, insightful readings! #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Temperance card, showing a blue-haired angel pouring water between two vessels

From left to right: the Knight of Cups, Two of Coins (with the original publishing house, B.P. Grimaud's, inscription and two dates (1748 and 1930, the former presumably referring to the Arnoult card makers?)), and the King of Coins.

The box, card back with a delicate swirly blue-green pattern, and Moon, Four of Swords, and Nine of Coins cards (left to right).

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 7d

Hear hear!

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 7d

For context, a combination of endless rain and northerly latitude means that the blessed autumn gloom starts creeping in surprisingly early in my locale...which unfortunately cues the Big-Light-loving people to begin tormenting the rest of us.

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 7d

Now that the afternoons are darkening early, my spouse persists in switching on The Big Light whenever he enters a room. Unacceptable!

"Such a glare! I feel as if I were onstage at the Gaiety."

Maggie Smith - Such a glare! ( Downton Abbey )

YouTube video by nikola230

youtube.com

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Reposted by Hagazussa in Glasgow

Bat in Your Belfry @batinyourbelfry.bsky.social · 8d

Which Witch?

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 9d

Flying into spooky season!

A lovely Halloween witch and cat, on a postcard from 1910. In the New York Public Library Collections #WitchSky #SpookySeason #Halloween #Postcard

digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/120586...

Hallowe'en. - NYPL Digital Collections

NYPL's Digital Collections is a living database featuring prints, photographs, maps, manuscripts, video, and more unique research materials.

digitalcollections.nypl.org

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 11d

"Wax dolls being given to devil." The History of Witches and Wizards, 1720. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain. Source: wellcomecollection.org/works/ykvvwsqv

#WitchSky #WitchAlt #art #ArtHistory #illustration

A (woodblock?) print depicting four witches, facing a devil in the centre of the composition. The two nearest him are handing him human-shaped poppets. The devil has sharp horns, pointed ears, bat wings, a pointed tail, and clawed feet. Reptilian and giant insect creatures fly in the air above.

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Reposted by Hagazussa in Glasgow

𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚢 𝙿𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚔 💀☕🍂🎃 @andy-paciorek.bsky.social · 13d

The Witch
~ John Collier (1893)

#Caturday

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 13d

Poster for 'Cabaret du Chat Noir', by Théophile A. Steinlen, c.1896, Victoria and Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137574...

#Caturday #WitchSky #WitchAlt #art #ArtHistory

A poster for a cabaret in Montmartre, Paris (the Chat Noir). A fierce, thin black cat with staring yellow eyes sits on a red surface, which is inscribed with the words 'avec Rodolphe Salis'.

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 15d

Photos of Félix's iconic look and serpentine jewellery in an article about her business relationship with Cartier.

María Félix’s Style And Cartier’s Heritage On View At Mexico City Museum Exhibition

'Cartier Design: A Living Legacy,' at Museo Jumex in Mexico City will run till May 14.

www.forbes.com

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 15d

The great Mexican actress, María Félix, commissioned Cartier to make this articulated diamond snake collar in 1968. Includes enamel scales in the colours of the Mexican flag. The reflection in the glass captures the incredible sparkle. Displayed at in the V&A Cartier exhibition, London. #WitchSky

A life-size, flexible, articulated diamond snake collar by Cartier. The reflection in the glass in the background shows the iridescent sparkle

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 15d

Treadwell's Books: another best shop in London for esoteric books and tarot! #WitchSky #WitchAlt ##BookSky

The storefront of Treadwell's Books, with a green awning and large display window

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 17d

Thanks! I'm heading to Treadwells next 😁 it's a sanctuary 😊

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 17d

Watkins Books, one of the best shops in London for tarot and esoteric books! #TarotTuesday #WitchAlt #TarotSky

The front of Watkins Books, painted in dark blue with large display windows lit by fairy lights

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Reposted by Hagazussa in Glasgow

Susan DuBose @houseofbast777.bsky.social · 19d

May your Autumn be blessed & your harvest abundant w/ all good things
'Twilight in Autumn'
Tin Can Forest
#Witchsky

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Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 19d

"The nightmare, with her whole ninefold." Arthur Rackham, book illustration, New York Public Library, digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/d5c0f8...

#WitchSky #WitchAlt #art #illustration

A witch-like figure wearing a black, pointed hat on top of a frilly white bonnet, a purple dress and cape, and buckled shoes, is riding a skeletal white horse. As the horse takes off, she gestures in front of her to urge on nine demon-like creatures which are springing out of a bird's nest in the lower right foreground. One of them clings in midair to her flapping cloak. They are setting out across a nighttime, marshy landscape.

Hagazussa in Glasgow @hagazussainglasgow.bsky.social · 20d

"By day she made herself into a cat," Arthur Rackam, book illustration, 1920
#WitchSky #WitchAlt #art #illustration #Caturday

Source: www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustration...

A fierce black cat with lowering eyes and bared teeth sits on a gnarled tree branch in front of a grey, moody sunset.

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