Brita is a one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality antique doll of unknown age in the style of German “low-brow” china dolls featuring a tea-dyed soft body. Her skirt is hand-dyed and painted and she comes with her original lace-trimmed pantaloons. Her head, arms and lower legs are china. Her body features hand stamped tattoos of a swallow and hearts.
She is adorned with a removable vintage lace collar with an attached bejeweled bib and antique chandelier crystals.
She measures approx. 20” in length.
Brita comes with a felt witch hat tied on with vintage textile ribbon and a chain that matches her chatelaine, which features a working locket, string of antique rhinestones from the 1940’s East Germany purchased at a Berlin flea market. Another string adorns her wrist as a bracelet.
She also comes with a handmade broom crafted from applewood, used traditionally in Old Europe for myriad magical uses including for protection, liminal crossings, fertility, and divination.
Brita Zippel was one of the most infamous victims of the 1676 Katarina witch trials: “The Great Noise” in Stockholm, Sweden. She and her sister Anna Zippel were both accused of abducting children to Blåkulla, the witches’ Sabbath.
Brita was a widow who was shunned by her wealthy family, known for her temper and unruliness. By the time of her arrest, she had become a local outcast after her disabled husband died — his disability was seen as “the mark of the devil.” She was tried for sorcery three times and accused of cursing ships and throwing men off their horses.
During her final trial, Brita refused to confess or repent, insisting she was innocent. She chased her accusers through the streets and brought a knife to her trial, ready to attack them. As she was dragged to the execution platform (it took four men to do so), she shook her shackles and mocked her audience, and said she would return to haunt everyone there, with Satan’s help since they saw her as a witch anyway, starting with the priest. Despite the lack of real evidence, she was condemned. Brita was executed on April 29, 1676.
This doll is in very good condition despite some cracks in her porcelain that do not affect her structural integrity. She is antique of uncertain age however, and has fragile ceramic parts and is for display not play. Do not get her or her clothing wet, and keep out of direct sunlight.
Brita is a one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality antique doll of unknown age in the style of German “low-brow” china dolls featuring a tea-dyed soft body. Her skirt is hand-dyed and painted and she comes with her original lace-trimmed pantaloons. Her head, arms and lower legs are china. Her body features hand stamped tattoos of a swallow and hearts.
She is adorned with a removable vintage lace collar with an attached bejeweled bib and antique chandelier crystals.
She measures approx. 20” in length.
Brita comes with a felt witch hat tied on with vintage textile ribbon and a chain that matches her chatelaine, which features a working locket, string of antique rhinestones from the 1940’s East Germany purchased at a Berlin flea market. Another string adorns her wrist as a bracelet.
She also comes with a handmade broom crafted from applewood, used traditionally in Old Europe for myriad magical uses including for protection, liminal crossings, fertility, and divination.
Brita Zippel was one of the most infamous victims of the 1676 Katarina witch trials: “The Great Noise” in Stockholm, Sweden. She and her sister Anna Zippel were both accused of abducting children to Blåkulla, the witches’ Sabbath.
Brita was a widow who was shunned by her wealthy family, known for her temper and unruliness. By the time of her arrest, she had become a local outcast after her disabled husband died — his disability was seen as “the mark of the devil.” She was tried for sorcery three times and accused of cursing ships and throwing men off their horses.
During her final trial, Brita refused to confess or repent, insisting she was innocent. She chased her accusers through the streets and brought a knife to her trial, ready to attack them. As she was dragged to the execution platform (it took four men to do so), she shook her shackles and mocked her audience, and said she would return to haunt everyone there, with Satan’s help since they saw her as a witch anyway, starting with the priest. Despite the lack of real evidence, she was condemned. Brita was executed on April 29, 1676.
This doll is in very good condition despite some cracks in her porcelain that do not affect her structural integrity. She is antique of uncertain age however, and has fragile ceramic parts and is for display not play. Do not get her or her clothing wet, and keep out of direct sunlight.
