September's object of the month is this Ceremonial Sword from our current exhibition, SPELLBOUND: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft.
This sword was a ceremonial weapon, a marriage or betrothal gift decorated with potent symbols to ensure the longevity of love. The crystal hilt also contains a relic, the bone of a saint, which transmitted its power of protection by being held.
The symbols on the blade suggest that it was brought to England by the Catholic princess Henrietta Maria on her marriage to Charles I.
