White Jade Panel, Iron Wood & Brass - Spirit and 3 similar items

~ Voodoo Priestess Estate ~ GiJong Monk's White Jade Panel, Cherry Wood and Brass - Spirit Transference Jewelry Vault A Seance Spirit Reading Room Find and Haunted Return ~:~ It has now been nearly twenty-two and a half years ago since we were called to do an estate that had been closed up for seventeen years! The Voodoo Estate! This type of call usually gets us excited as they are a treasure trove. Located here in Florida, there was no electricity or running water so we rigged our own lighting and in we went. If you have ever seen the Adams Family you will have some idea as to what we were greeted with! Then the attorney handling the liquidation gave us some background. The estate had belonged to an alleged powerful Voodoo Priestess/JooJoo Exorcist, grand daughter of a Marie Laveau, and favored daughter of a Marie Glapion. These names meant nothing to us, but the late night talk of Voodoo and exorcism in the old mansion was enough to make us decide to spend the night in a hotel and return in the morning to assess the estate. The rest is history. Our research has shown that this woman was what she claimed and was indeed descended from a long line of well known Vodoun family originating in New Orleans in the early 1800's. We were pretty unnerved by this until we discovered they were also devout Catholics! Although I have to admit this was unlike any Catholic home we have ever been in and some of the items found inside were a little more than unnerving. There was no feeling of dread or unwelcome in the mansion, however there was quite a bit of contraband and other items we can or will not sell here. This is one of a few pieces from this estate we will be listing this week, so check our other listings. We will, upon the new guardian's request, issue a named Letter of Authenticity with each piece from this estate, complying with the terms set forth to us by the estate's attorney. Some Back Story This is one of the unusual jewelry vaults that were recovered from a cabinet in the foyer lounge to her main seance and reading room. These rooms were a commercial endeavor that had a wealthy following and it is where many of the major seances of this estate were conducted. Many, if not all of her associates worked this room, conducting seances, card readings and numerous forms of divination for their clientele. Apparently this was a lucrative endeavor, as it remained active for over six decades. Her journals list a host of well known psychics, mediums and other celebrities that would make guest appearances and that these events were booked to capacity well in advance. ~!~ The Box Her journals tell us they would load these boxes with items they felt they could sell to their clients at a premium, whether through enchantments they had placed on them or through an items history of its own. When found, the box was locked with the accompanying lock and upon opening it we recovered, a pearl necklace, a Thai amulet necklace, a gold and diamond cross, two mala bracelets, eleven rings and thirty-four assorted gemstones. Boxes they had filled with jewels and jewelry were fairly commonplace finds in this extensive estate and although we like the idea of selling them intact, as found, the price of many of them is prohibitive to most of us, so we decided to sell the contents of some individually, as in this case which priced out at $12,418.00. The write-up for first of the eleven rings was just published and all were figural. Their journals and inventory tell us it was introduced to the estate in 1946 as a gift to the Mistress by a named associate, The GiJong Monk. The GiJong Monk Her journals note of many meetings over a six decade period with a man she names as, "The GiJong Monk." "A master mesmerist" according to many of these entries. A number of hypnosis and devices of illusion were found in this estate that were attributed to him, at least in design. From their journals it is apparent this was a tall, handsome, well dressed, versed and spoken Chinaman that was a welcome guest and associate, known to be well received entertainment to his hostess and her guests. Although she claims, "it is not an illusion" it is alleged he amazed many with his ability to transform into a Phoenix, a tiger, a peacock, and back to a man again in the blink of an eye. She writes, "Feng is Loa to his ancient line, owing his blood an eternal debt." He was also associated with many of the Oriental artifacts recovered from this estate and known to participate in the rituals that took place there. He is known to have accompanied her, and/or others associated with her in their travels and on many other occasions acted on their behalf while abroad in the Orient. He was responsible for the procurement of many unusual artifacts recovered from this estate. This box among them! ~!~ and Back to the Box Examination reveals a well made cherry lacquer stained (ironwood?) jewelry vault or box that has been set with hand cut filigreed white jade panels with brass fittings, most likely circa 1920/1930. Although relatively scarce, this type of jewelry box has been manufactured by Chinese artisans since the late 19th. century and can still be found today as modern reproductions making them difficult to date. The white jade panels are hand cut, while we have seen the modern reproductions having laser cut panels, most being glass or even plastic. The dovetail construction is another indicator of a genuine antique. The brass fittings have obviously been polished while at the estate and have developed a new overall patina. The front jade fittings have been cut in an endless knot while the side fittings represent bats. It measures approximately 6 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 4 3/16" and weighs 2 lbs., 5 oz. The box is in excellent overall condition with no damage or repairs. The Chinese lock and key shown are original to the box and included with it. ~!~ Their journals contain numerous entries that reference these boxes and the things found inside. This box, according to the GiJong Monk, had belonged to a Chinese sorcerer, who had spelled it to attract and contain spirits that would attach to the contents. Placing an object into one of the cabinet drawers along with any gemstone, or combination thereof along with it, would allow the spirit access to the stone's energies and vice-versa, essentially enhancing them both. ~!~ Staff reports while in our possession tell of the box vibrating and rocking back and forth in the dark, and finding one or both doors open. ~!~ and so, it was sold... We sold it approximately 8 months ago to a friend and client of twenty years who is a knowledgeable practitioner and collector. Shortly after receiving it he contacted us. Something was amiss with a spirit presence in the box that was entering into his dream state. It did not seem friendly and he requested a return for an exchange which we gladly agreed to. Uncle Waddy is always anxious to recover items from this estate which display spirit activity. Since this activity was not displayed while in our possession, Uncle Waddy and our client determined this negative activity was caused from the items that were in the box when we recovered it being removed and sold separately. Our client decided to purchase some of these items, especially the amulets and when they arrived, he decided to keep the box as things seemed to quiet down for a while...until they didn't. Suffice to say for now that it has been in Uncle Waddy's possession for about a six weeks. Upon arrival it was unpacked and placed upon the makeshift weapons shrine atop the Bombay cabinet in his office and he had nothing to report during it's five day stay there. The box was next moved to his Kuman Thong cabinet where it spent the four days while he was at The Alamo. Upon his return he removed it from the cabinet and in his own words, "WHOA! It feels considerably heavier and full of energy. The boys (his Kuman Thong children) tell me it is just lonely. It being a spirit or spirits of as of yet unidentified LiDiex that have resided there since being called to the box by his or their brethren. It's comprehension of realities, time and space are convoluted. It apparently goes into a deep sleep but can be aroused by manipulating the box. I can not communicate directly with it as it only speaks a bastardized Portuguese dialect, but the boys abilities once again prove worthy and they are able to connect us all in lucid dreams and act as interpreters. It is not a malcontent. There is not much more that I can add here other then the belief that it is a spirit combined of two of the LiDiex, cousins that died within weeks of each other." ~!~ It is certainly a nicely aged Asian antique with an extraordinary provenance that is much nicer than our photographer has been able to depict. ~!~ We have been contacted and visited by a number of people who were interested in the items from this estate since our first batch was listed. Among the buyers have been known psychics and practitioners. More than one, after adorning themselves or handling their purchase, stated "this is a woman of power!" Many of our customers, after receiving items from this estate have reported dream contacts and other unexplained phenomenon. Unusual, authentic Voodoo Priestess Estate piece and at a bargain price! This is truly a rare opportunity to own anything with attributes to this estate. The majority of this estate is now gone. Most of what we had left, and it was considerable, has been split up and sold to a couple of private, foreign collector practitioners and will never be available to the public again. We made the decision to do this as we have had some pretty strange visits from even stranger individuals and there have been enough unexplained phenomenon going on in the warehouse where her things were kept that many of our employees refused to go in there. The pieces offered and sold here are some of the few remaining pieces that will ever be offered to the public. Nice addition to any collection, altar, wardrobe or decor, displays really well. Really doesn't get any better than this. There are 14 photographs to tell the rest of this tale. Buyer to pay $15.85 for Insured Ground Shipping with Tracking, handling and lagniappe. We Combine Shipping. Rest assured your order will be carefully packed to withstand the onslaught of the most deranged of UPS or Postal Workers. International Buyer's, Please email us for a Shipping Quote. Payment is due at listing end. Check our other listings, and sign up for our newsletter as new items are usually listed daily. Text and Photos Copyright 2001-2024 bushidobuce, all rights reserved. ~!~ You are buying the vault only. The props are not part of the deal, but you knew that already. ~!~ Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution