witch bottles en

Bottles, usually made of glass or stoneware, made to protect individuals and locations from witchcraft. Contain various combinations of pins, nails, plant material, bodily fluids, and or human organic materials (nail clippings, hair, etc.) After preparation, bottles were placed inside building foundations or concealed in outdoor locations such as churchyards. Commonly practiced in England in the 17th century, though some examples have been found in the United States dating from the mid-19th century.