Search 0
54,072  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 222 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
222 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Items per page
ID #SA1243666
FOR SALE
£380
Email Phone
Save
A Very Large Antique Witches Ball
For sale by Branching Out Antiques
for sale €445     $483
£380
Branching Out Antiques

Branching Out Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Apr 2022
Browse dealers 82 items
  • About Us
    Decorative & country house antiques, including art and taxidermy
Id #SA1243666
PDF SHARE
SAVE

A Very Large Antique Witches Ball

19th century
Description

A large late 19th early 20th Century French mercury witches ball of good weight.

Diameter 30cm

Good general condition with no major colour loss, and minor foxing only, just as it should be to show its age.

Date of Manufacture

Branching Out Antiques has dated this Antique Silvered Witch Ball to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1243666
Description
A large late 19th early 20th Century French mercury witches ball of good weight.

Diameter 30cm

“
Good general condition with no major colour loss, and minor foxing only, just as it should be to show its age.
Branching Out Antiques
Date of Manufacture

Branching Out Antiques has dated this Antique Silvered Witch Ball to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1243666
Branching Out Antiques
Branching Out Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Apr 2022

Decorative & country house antiques, including art and taxidermy

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Branching Out Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain.
1 / 4
Archive I A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain.

A Very Large Antique Witches Ball

Archive II A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain. View II
Archive III A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain. View III
Archive IV A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain. View IV
Enlarged Archival View
Branching Out Antiques

Branching Out Antiques
Telephone 07742 117815
Location
Kent
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/branchingout
Verified Since Apr 2022
Items For Sale 82
Items Sold 388
Branching Out Antiques
Branching Out Antiques
Verified Since Apr 2022
View Dealer Info
Location: Kent, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/branchingout
Verified
Apr 2022
For Sale
82
Sold
388
A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain.
A VERY LARGE ANTIQUE WITCHES BALL
Ref: SA1243666
A large spherical mercury glass witch ball featuring a reflective silver finish and a metal hanging loop attached to a chain.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Spheres
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialSilvered Glass, Metal
  • ColourSilver
  • MotifsSpherical form, Mirrored finish, Metal suspension cap, Hanging chain

A late nineteenth to early twentieth century French decorative sphere originates from the Victorian period, constructed from silvered glass and metal with a reflective silver finish. The object takes a spherical form and includes a metal suspension cap attached to a hanging chain. The piece measures 30 cm in diameter, a substantial practical size suited for prominent display. Minor foxing appears across the surface alongside good general condition with no major colour loss. Position this decorative piece in a bay window to catch natural light and create reflective interior displays. The silvered glass surface mirrors the surrounding space while the metal chain provides secure hanging support from above. The traditional Victorian and Gothic design complements period rooms as well as eclectic modern interiors seeking historical character.

FAQs

Originating in England during the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, witch balls were hollow glass spheres suspended in windows to ward off evil spirits, bad luck, and the evil eye. The reflective surface was believed to entice and trap negative energies within the globe.

Historical witch balls were blown from glass and coated internally with a liquid silvering solution, often containing tin or lead compounds rather than actual element mercury, before being fitted with a metal metal suspension cap.

Authentic period examples generally display free-blown glass irregularities, hand-finished pontil marks near the metal collar, and natural interior flaking or oxidisation of the silvered lining caused by age.

These decorative glass globes are commonly hung in bay windows, suspended from high ceilings, or displayed in groupings at varying heights to catch natural light and cast reflections across the room.

Care should be taken to clean only the exterior glass surface using a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Avoid applying water or chemical solvents near the metal cap to prevent moisture from entering the interior cavity and damaging the silvered layer.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories