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Page 2 The Antique Shoppe October, 2017
Authors have often fueled the myths surrounding black cats. Edgar Allen
CATS Poe, in The Black Cat, wrote, “…my wife, who at heart was not a little
Continued from Page 1 tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular
notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise.”

In Western culture, black cats The one exception to black cats being bad luck was on board sailing ships.
have, historically, been seen as symbols Sailors considered it good luck to have a black ship’s cat. However, it is
of evil, specifically black cats are common knowledge that if a black cat walks onto a ship and then immediately
considered witches’ familiars. walks back off it, the ship is doomed to sink on its next voyage. Rumors
Many European abound that a black cat abandoned the Titanic minutes before it sailed, and then
countries consider a black sat on its haunches, watching the doomed ship steam out of harbor.
cat bad luck or the symbol Since the 1880s, black cats have been associated with
of bad luck—a cat walking anarchism—a political philosophy that advocates government is
across one’s path, in front undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful. A black cat, in an alert,
of a person, is believed fighting stance, was later adopted as an anarchist symbol. Specifically,
to be an omen of misfortune and impending death; however, in black cats are associated with anarcho-syndicalism, a branch of
England, a black cat crossing a person’s path is considered a anarchism that focuses on labor unions. In 1918, Ralph Chaplin, who
good omen. is credited with creating the Industrial Workers of the World black
Folklore often describes a black cat’s ability to shape change cat symbol, claimed the black cat “was
or shift into human shape in order to act as spies for witches commonly used by the boys as representing
and demons. Here in America, when the Pilgrims arrived at the idea of sabotage.
Plymouth Rock, they believed black cats were companions Continued >
to witches. Women who owned black cats were punished or
killed as witches since black cats derived their coloring from
demonic possession and sorcery. Throughout Europe, during
the infamous witch hunts held there, black cats were often TOP LEFT: The black cat, symbol of sabotage, of the
Industrial Workers of the World, also adopted as a
burned to death in midsummer bonfires as satanic creatures. symbol by anarcho-syndicalists.
Around 1,000 CE, in England, the Druids feared cats CENTER: Vaillancourt “Ghouly Girl” Halloween
- believing that by using evil powers, humans could turn chalkware folk art, 1978. This “cute” girl and black
themselves into cats. So during Samhain, the beginning of the cat is valued at $220.
“darker half” of the year, on November 1, many cats were thrown into the LEFT: Black Cat and pumpkin cookie jar by Harry and
fires to get rid of the evil. David. This limited edition, #368 of 900, Halloween
In Ireland, wearing a charm made from the bone of a black cat makes one cookie jar is valued at $200.
invisible. This superstition has led to the murder of many black cats, and, not too
surprising, all suspected cat killers were visible when tried for animal cruelty.

Judy’s
Ft. Myers Antiques Classic Furniture & Consignment
Antiques & Collectibles
“Everything Comes with a Story”
Authorized Dealer of
Sid Dickens
and Jewelry Memory Blocks

Buy & Sell Vintage Peddler
Estate Jewelry, Sterling
Pottery, Porcelains
Call for
Specializing in Summer
ALL JEWELRY Hours
Sal Lanzieri, Proprietor
Phone 239-481-9600 239-437-9117
Mobile 239-707-9216
12710 McGregor Blvd. 16050 S. Tamiami Trail, #101
Ft. Myers, FL 33919 Ft. Myers, FL 33908
Open Mon.-Sat. 10-4 1 info@vintagepeddler.net 2

1 GANNON’S
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Estate Liquidations Area’s LARGEST Mall
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Specializing In-
Art Pottery
Nautical Antiques
2 4 50’s Modern Decor

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3 239-432-0906
www.swapshopantiques.com 100 DEALERS
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17851 Pine Ridge Rd. #1 Located on US 41
(239) 489-2211
Ft. Myers Bch, FL 33931 3 www.gannonsantiques.com 4