Eerie Objects From History
For the most part, historical artifacts offer a wonderful insight into times gone by. However, certain objects have unbelievably nightmarish backstories and chilling reputations—and sometimes, they're even downright haunted.
Annabelle The Doll
Annabelle is no ordinary Raggedy Ann doll. After all, what kind of doll would be locked up in an occult museum—one owned by the paranormal investigator Ed and Lorrain Warren, no less? A haunted doll—that's what.
Annabelle The Doll: She Was Possessed
In 1970, the doll belonged to a student nurse. After it began exhibiting odd behavior, a psychic medium claimed that the spirit of a girl named "Annabelle" possessed the doll.
Annabelle The Doll: She Kept Moving Around The Apartment
Although Annabelle's owner tried to respect the doll as best she could, its frightening behavior was what set off alarm bells in the first place. Most notably, the doll seemed capable of moving around on her own.
New Line Cinema, Annabelle (2014)
Annabelle The Doll: Strange Notes
Things took an even darker turn when the nurse began discovering strange notes. On these pieces of parchment paper, only two words were written: "Help Me". The increasing number of these scary incidents eventually led to a consultation with the Warrens.
Annabelle The Doll: They Moved Her To An Occult Museum
From there, Annabelle earned herself a one-way ticket to The Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, until it eventually closed its doors. But that wasn't the end of her story.
Prisencolinensinainciusol, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Annabelle The Doll: She Inspired Hollywood
Thanks to Annabelle, horror lovers get to watch films based on her. She plays a big part in The Conjuring Universe: Annabelle, Annabelle Creation, Annabelle Comes Home, The Conjuring 2, and more.
software algorithm, Wikimedia Commons
The Conjured Chest
In 1976, a woman named Virginia Cary Hudson Mayne donated a strange chest of drawers to the Kentucky Historical Society—and it came with a chilling backstory.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: A Haunted Family Heirloom
You see, according to Virginia, as many as 18 people lost their lives because of this twisted family heirloom, which she claims was haunted. In fact, this particular object even appeared in an episode of the television show Deadly Possessions, hosted by paranormal investigator Zak Bagans.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: It Needed To Be Locked Away
Virginia's daughter even featured in the episode of Deadly Possessions, sharing why her mother gave the chest to the historical society: “I don’t think she would turn it loose. I mean, imagine putting it out on the curb knowing that someone might put items in it and then die. She felt that it needed to be preserved, but to be kept away from innocent people in a place that would make it very clear that it wasn’t to be used".
But why exactly was this chest a threat to human life?
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: Who Made It?
Well, the story of the Conjured Chest dates back to the 19th century, passed down to the final owner, Virginia, in a letter from her mother. The chest was first made by an enslaved man named Remus. Its future owner was Jeremiah Graham, who was busy readying his home for the arrival of a new baby.
The Conjured Chest: A Terrible Revenge
However, when Remus finished the chest, its intended owner was not happy with it. Graham took his anger out on Remus, beating him so badly, he didn't survive. In the spirit of revenge, some of Remus's fellow enslaved workers decided to curse the chest. They put dried owl blood inside the chest, sparking a series of tragedies.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: The Child Perished
After the cursed chest found a home in the Graham's baby's room, it wasn't long before the infant perished. Putting garments inside of it was a surefire way to set off another fatal incident.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: Breaking The Curse
When the chest finally made its way into Virginia Cary Hudson Mayne's hands, she became determined to break its curse once and for all. It was her maid Sallie who came up with the solution. According to her, there was a special ritual they needed to follow. But there was a dreadful price to pay.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: A Strange Ritual
After following a bizarre ritual involving a lifeless owl, boiled willow leaves, and a buried jug beneath a bush, all Virginia and Sallie could do was wait. The curse would be broken if either one of them passed before the bush shed all of its leaves.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Conjured Chest: The Final Victim
In the end, it was Sallie who didn't make it. And this is where the story comes full circle, with Virginia donating the Conjured Chest to the historical society. Even now, there are still owl feathers held in its upper drawer, ensuring that the curse doesn't ever strike again.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
The Crying Boy
Painted by Giovanni Bragolin, The Crying Boy became a very popular print. Beginning in the 1950s, it made its way into countless homes. Unfortunately, many believe that this particular print was cursed—and for good reason.
The Crying Boy: It Was Fire Resistant
In 1985, a chilling rumor about The Crying Boy began to circulate. In the British tabloid The Sun, a firefighter reportedly noted that he often came across the painting in the rubble of destroyed homes. The creepy part? The prints were always in pristine condition.
Zastolskiy Victor, Shutterstock
The Crying Boy: They Were Burned En Masse
The story about the cursed print captivated the minds of tabloid readers everywhere—so much so that they sent their prints to The Sun, who organized to have them all burnt en masse.
Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Black Prince's Ruby
The Black Prince's Ruby is a 170-carat beauty—but surprisingly, it isn't actually a genuine ruby. It wasn't until the 1500s that jewelers exposed it for what it truly was—a spinel. However, it is one of the most infamous gemstones in English history for a reason.
Cyril James Humphries Davenport, Wikimedia Commons
The Black Prince's Ruby: An Ancient Curse
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Black Prince's Ruby is its dark and gruesome history—one that has some people convinced that the gemstone is downright cursed.
To understand its chilling reputation, we have to go back to the very beginning.
British School, Wikimedia Commons
The Black Prince's Ruby: A Sultan's Woes
The first known owner of the gemstone was the last Sultan of Granada, Abu Said—and in 1362, he was in big trouble.
After losing battles against King Pedro the Cruel, he lost a lot of his land. Hoping to reach some kind of peaceful agreement with King Pedro, Sultan Abu traveled to Castile to meet with him. Tragically, only betrayal awaited him.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The Black Prince's Ruby: A Horrific Betrayal
Turns out, King Pedro wasn't the peacemaking kind of fellow and promptly slayed Sultan Abu. According to legend, this is the bloody moment that sparked the infamous "Sultan's Curse". And it was the sultan's gemstone that seemed to spell death for whoever came into possession of it.
Bernard Lens III, Wikimedia Commons
The Black Prince's Ruby: It Spelled The End
Following the initial demise of the sultan, there was a string of eerie deaths over the years. All of them were royals, starting with Edward the Black Prince, for whom the gemstone was named.
Unknown Author, OGL 3, Wikimedia Commons
The Black Prince's Ruby: The Crown Jewels
Today, the Black Prince's Ruby—with its dark history of ill-fated owners—can be viewed at The Tower of London, amongst the other crown jewels on display.
Cecil Beaton, Wikimedia Commons
The Anguished Man
The Anguished Man is one of the most terrifying paintings to behold—and it also comes with a chilling backstory. The owner of the painting, Sean Robinson, inherited the frightful piece from his grandmother.
Dejan Krsmanovic, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Anguished Man: It Caused Paranormal Activity
In possession of The Anguished Man, Robinson began experiencing odd sounds in his home, including crying and moaning. He also claimed to see a "figure of a man".
The Anguished Man: The Painter Took His Own Life
You see, the painter of The Anguished Man was anguished himself, and reportedly mixed his blood in with his paints. The disturbed artist eventually took his own life.
The Anguished Man is so famous that the film rights for a movie about it were acquired in 2016.
Busby's Stoop Chair
Busby's stoop chair, also known as the Dead Man's Chair, has a dark history. As the story goes, Thomas Busby placed a curse on the oak chair before he was hung in 1702 in North Yorkshire.
Maigheach-gheal, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Busby's Stoop Chair: Don't Sit On It
Following Busby's demise, the chair took up residence at the Busby Stoop Inn. But those who sat on the chair often met unfortunate ends.
Busby's Stoop Chair: The Airmen Didn't Survive
Allegedly, during WWII, a group of Canadian airmen visited the pub. Unfortunately, the men who sat in Busby's chair didn't escape the war alive. Then, in the 1970s, even more accidents were attributed to the haunted chair. Something had to be done.
The Busby Stoop, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Busby's Stoop Chair: It Was Stored Out Of Reach
In 1978, the landlord of Busby Stoops Inn donated the chair to the Thirsk Museum. However, nobody was allowed to sit in the chair from then on. Hung from the ceiling, not even maintenance workers could get their hands on it.
Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is gorgeous but dangerous. The piece is 45.52 carats and is insured for $250 million, but it's probably a good thing that it's behind glass at the Smithsonian.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The Hope Diamond: Those Who Wore It Perished
Allegedly, the Hope Diamond's curse dates back to the 17th century. Many who have worn the heavy necklace have met terrible misfortunes. There were many cases of owners taking their own lives or meeting gruesome ends.
The Hope Diamond: It Was Taken Without Permission
According to the myth, the original Hope Diamond came from a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita. However, after it was stolen, the reports of bad luck began.
Mbalotia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Natalie Wood's Yacht
Natalie Wood might have one of the most mysterious ends in Hollywood. At the age of just 43 years old, the beloved actress drowned near Santa Catalina Island—but the circumstances surrounding her demise were incredibly suspicious.
Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Natalie Wood's Yacht: An Obvious Suspect
Much of the suspicion fell on the shoulders of husband, Robert Wager, who—along with Christopher Walken and Wood—had been aboard their yacht Splendour prior to her drowning.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Natalie Wood's Yacht: An Unsolved Mystery
With so many unanswered questions and conflicting witness accounts, the authorities eventually listed her demise as "drowning and other undetermined factors". But though Wood's mystery may never be solved, her yacht has since yielded yet another mystery.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
Natalie Wood's Yacht: She Never Left
Enter: Rob Nelson. In 2014, Nelson was the current owner of Wood's yacht, Splendour—but he decided to sell it for the craziest reason. According to him, the boat was haunted by none other than the actress herself.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
Natalie Wood's Yacht: The Owner Put It Up For Sale
Five years after Wood's drowning, Nelson first acquired the yacht. But over the years, the number of "supernatural" encounters he experienced drove him to put it up for sale.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
Natalie Wood's Yacht: Unexplained Incidents
Nelson claimed that he would often fall on the boat in strange ways: "It's just like my feet came out from under me and I fell". He also believed that he could feel her spirit: "Something sat down on the bed and then left".
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
Natalie Wood's Yacht: An Exorcism
Nelson even went so far as to have the yacht exorcized. He had two Hawaiian kahunas bless Splendour in the hopes that Wood's presence might finally be at peace.
MY Entertainment, Deadly Possessions (2016)
James Dean's Porsche
It's widely known that the young James Dean passed in a tragic car accident on September 30, 1955, but some believe that his crashed car was cursed.
James Dean's Porsche: A Chilling Prediction
A week before his accident, Dean showed the silver Porsche to fellow actor Alec Guinness. Reportedly, Guinness told Dean, "Please, never get in it. It is now ten o'clock, Friday the 23rd of September, 1955. If you get in that car you will be found dead in it by this time next week". He was right.
Kirill Borisenko, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
James Dean's Porsche: A Brand New Owner
Following Dean's sad demise, the Porsche wound up in the hands of Dr William Eschrich, who purchased it from a salvage yard. He broke the car down for its parts, putting the engine into his own race car. But that wasn't all.
James Dean's Porsche: More Tragedies
Eschrich also gave the Porsche's suspension and transmission to another racing driver, Troy McHenry. Both men ran into some serious bad luck. Eschrich crashed his car but managed to survive. McHenry, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He perished after his car crashed into a tree.
Alexandre Prévot, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
James Dean's Porsche: There Were Mysterious Accidents
In 1956, a man named George Barris put the wrecked Porsche on display and marketed it as being cursed. He claimed that between 1956 and 1960, there were a number of accidents linked to the parts that came from Dean's car.
James Dean's Porsche: The Porsche Disappeared
In a bizarre twist, Dean's car also disappeared in 1960. Barris claimed that the Porsche had been transported in a sealed boxcar, traveling from a traffic safety exhibit in Florida. However, when it reached LA, there was nothing inside the boxcar. The car was gone.
The Woman From Lemb
The Woman From Lemb is a limestone statue dating back to 3,500 BC—and it was discovered in 1878 in Cyprus. But this statue cursed any family who owned it.
Héctor Ochoa 'Robot8A', CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Woman From Lemb: Its Owners Met Dark Ends
Reportedly, the first family who owned the Woman From Lemb only lasted six years. By the end, all seven members had lost their lives. But that was just the beginning.
The Woman From Lemb: She Went On A Rampage
Ivor Menucci, the second owner, also perished after owning the statue for just four years. After that, the Woman From Lemb seemingly disappeared, but when it finally reared its head, the curse struck again.
Héctor Ochoa 'Robot8A', CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Woman From Lemb: They Washed Their Hands Of Her
The third family to lay claim to the Woman From Lemb also saw tragedy—but finally came to their senses and gave the unlucky artifact to the Royal Scottish Museum.
The Dark Mirror
The Dark Mirror is an artifact that belongs to the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult. However, the mirror's original owner supposedly bought the piece from a psychic fair.
The Dark Mirror: It Shows You A Nightmare
The original owner of the cursed mirror reported seeing terrible things in the artifact's reflection. Even now, it is common for visitors to see their own deceased bodies when looking into the mirror's depths.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wikimedia Commons
The Dybbuk Box
The Dybbuk Box is such an infamous object, it helped inspire the horror flick, The Possession. Allegedly, it is a wine box that has been possessed by a malevolent demon known as a dybbuk. This spirit comes from Jewish mythology.
KennyBiddle, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Dybbuk Box: A Terrifying Auction
In 2001, the Dybbuk Box earned its notoriety after being sold on eBay. The seller claimed that the original owner was a Holocaust survivor, and that he'd purchased the artifact from an estate sale. Unfortunately, the box seemed haunted.
The Dybbuk Box: It Caused Bad Dreams
The seller also claimed that paranormal activity came hand in hand with the Dybbuk Box, and that he'd been the victim of terrifying nightmares.
Today, the artifact belongs to the paranormal enthusiast Zak Bagans, who became its owner in 2017. It can be found in Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum.
Alejamte, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Tomb Of Tutankhamun
In 1922, the archaeologist Howard Carter and a group of excavators made the fantastic discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. It quickly became the most renowned pioneering moment in Egyptology's history. But dark rumors swirled around the occasion.
Maynard Owen Williams, Wikimedia Commons
The Tomb Of Tutankhamun: Rumors Flourished
During the excavation, disaster struck. One of Carter's patrons—the Earl of Carnarvon—lost his life to an infection. Many began whispering that his demise was the result of the tomb's curse. This was only reinforced when other bizarre and tragic events became linked to the historical site.
Harry Burton, Wikimedia Commons
Okiku, The Haunted Doll
Okiku is one of the world's scariest haunted dolls, but she actually comes with a very heartbreaking backstory, dating back to 1918. Initially, a teenage boy named Eikichi Suzuki bought the doll from an exhibition for his two-year-old sister, Okiku.
Okiku, The Haunted Doll: Sweet Beginnings
When Suzuki first purchased the doll, she came with her hair styled in a particular way—with a bob cut. When little Okiku set eyes on her new toy, she was over the moon. But things took a dark turn when she fell fatally ill at the age of three.
Okiku, The Haunted Doll: A Lost Child
Sadly, Okiku didn't survive her sickness. With her demise, she left her beloved doll behind. Her grieving family decided to place their late daughter's toy on their household altar... and this is where things started to get downright freaky.
Okiku, The Haunted Doll: Her Hair Began To Grow
The doll's short hair began to grow, convincing Okiku's family that the little girl's spirit had possessed the doll. They kept watch over this magical toy for decades, but decided to give it to the Mannenji Temple in 1938.
Okiku, The Haunted Doll: Where To Visit Her
The doll—now named Okiku too—can still be found at Mannenji Temple in Japan. Allegedly, her hair is still growing and requires regular trims.
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