toverijenspokerij: burkudzauta: blackpaint20: Witch whistle, decorated with skull and rat’s pa
toverijenspokerij: burkudzauta: blackpaint20: Witch whistle, decorated with skull and rat’s paw, ca. 1850, MAS Collection, Museum aan de Stroom, Antwerp , photo Louis de Peuter More info on the inscription from here: “This whistle bears the inscription: ‘Siffle un deux trois / Vient au Sabbat / Sorcier larva Rat’. In the case of a rat plague, one called on a ‘shipper’ who possessed the magical power to move the rats to another place. The plague could be the work of a witch or wizard.” I’m not convinced that that word is “larva” though. It’s the only word that doesn’t make sense. Anyone got a better translation? Hmz, illness/diseases were often referred to as worms/and ilk, I imagine that something similar could be happening here as well… -- source link
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