Witchcraft Ritual Cauldron - Occultism, Esotericism - Necro - Devil - Cabinet Of Curiosities

France
Second Half of the 19th Century
Provenance: Private Collection - South of France

Esoteric Artifact for Black Magic Rituals and Demonic Conjurations Depicting the Seven Deadly Sins Through Demons

Magnificent witchcraft cauldron, a rare and unique copper artifact adorned with engravings of exceptional symbolic richness. This piece is imbued with a manifest mystical power, designed for occult practices, black magic rituals, and demonic invocations.

The cauldron’s lid is decorated with floral garlands and menacing mascaron faces, while the handle was likely added at a later time.

Analysis of the Engravings and Symbols: An Allegory of the Seven Deadly Sins

This cauldron combines motifs drawn from two iconic works exploring the theme of the Seven Deadly Sins.
1. Engraving by Hans Burgkmair the Elder (16th Century)
The cauldron features figures inspired by Burgkmair’s work, where each deadly sin is personified by a grotesque demon:

• Wrath (Zorn) - Demon: Amon: A furious creature wielding a sword, used in rituals of vengeance and destruction.
• Envy (Neid) - Demon: Leviathan: A serpent-like grinning demon, invoked to cast curses and spread jealousy.
• Pride (Hoffart) - Demon: Lucifer: A fallen angel adorned with feathers, symbolizing self-elevation and domination.
• Sloth (Trägheit) - Demon: Belphegor: A crouching figure used to paralyze the will of others.
• Gluttony (Fresserei) - Demon: Beelzebub: A grotesque monster devouring everything, exacerbating human weaknesses.
• Greed (Geiz) - Demon: Mammon: A covetous demon holding chests, used to attract wealth through occult means.
• Lust (Unkeuschheit) - Demon: Asmodeus: A lewd figure symbolizing rituals of seduction and sexual manipulation.

2. Engraving Revisited by Michel Liénard (1866)
Liénard’s work, published in 1866, reinterprets the Seven Deadly Sins in a neo-Gothic style:

• Wrath - Demon: Amon: A winged demon associated with destructive rituals.
• Envy - Demon: Leviathan: A serpentine creature with hypnotic eyes, used to launch destructive curses.
• Pride - Demon: Lucifer: A crowned demon, symbolizing the insatiable quest for power.
• Sloth - Demon: Belphegor: A creature surrounded by spiderwebs, symbolizing spiritual stagnation.
• Gluttony - Demon: Beelzebub: An obese demon representing insatiable appetite.
• Greed - Demon: Mammon: A demon clutching sacks of gold, used for rituals of material enrichment.
• Lust - Demon: Asmodeus: A sensual demon associated with rites of sexual manipulation.

Detailed Description of the Demons According to Collin de Plancy’s Dictionnaire Infernal

1. Amon (Wrath)

• Rank: Great Marquis of Hell
• Description: Amon, commanding 40 legions of demons, appears as a wolf with a serpent’s tail or a man with a raven’s head. Known for stirring quarrels and conflicts, he is invoked in rituals to incite hatred, vengeance, and destruction.

2. Leviathan (Envy)

• Rank: Grand Admiral of Hell
• Description: Leviathan, depicted as a serpent or a colossal sea monster, symbolizes envy and jealousy. He guards the gates of Hell and is associated with curses designed to destabilize adversaries.

3. Lucifer (Pride)

• Rank: Emperor of Hell
• Description: Lucifer, the fallen Light Bearer, embodies absolute power. He is summoned in rituals to obtain authority and domination.

4. Belphegor (Sloth)

• Rank: Prince of Hell
• Description: Belphegor tempts mortals with promises of easy wealth. He is invoked to lull enemies into inertia.

5. Beelzebub (Gluttony)

• Rank: Prince of Demons
• Description: Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies, symbolizes insatiable desire, not only for food but also for power and pleasures.

6. Mammon (Greed)

• Rank: Treasurer of Hell
• Description: Mammon, holding chests of gold, is invoked to attract fortune through occult practices.

7. Asmodeus (Lust)

• Rank: Grand Duke of Hell
• Description: Asmodeus, known for his seductive powers, is associated with rituals of seduction and sexual manipulation.

Mysterious Coat of Arms and Sacrificial Symbols

The cauldron bears an enigmatic coat of arms rich in occult symbolism:
• Two hands holding a dagger: Likely referencing blood sacrifices or symbolic acts of devotion.
• A severed leg: Suggesting human offerings in initiation rituals.
• Crossbones and fleurs-de-lis: Symbols of purification, transgression, and regeneration.

Demonic Hunting Scene

A fascinating depiction of a hunter pursuing a creature, likely symbolizing:
• Soul hunting: Capturing supernatural entities for power.
• Rituals of invocation: Gaining guidance from spirits or demons.

Uses in Black Magic: Rituals, Sacrifices, and Conjurations

This cauldron was likely employed in powerful rituals, including:
1. Sanguinomancy (Blood Magic): Utilizing blood to seal pacts with infernal entities.
2. Necromancy: Awakening the dead and summoning spirits.
3. Sensual Goetia: Controlling desires and manipulating individuals.
4. Evocation of the Dead: Communicating with ancestors or demons for forbidden revelations.
5. Dark Alchemy: Crafting forbidden elixirs to manipulate life and death.

Condition: Excellent preservation.

Dimensions:

• Height with handle: 29 cm
• Top diameter: 24 cm

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