MAIDEN AND CRONE - screen printed backpatch
The image of people flying on brooms or wild animals is firmly anchored in medieval and early modern folk belief and mainly arose from the idea that women and men get supernatural powers by the devil, with whom they made a pact. But is it the Devil who calls the witches to the Sabbath and gives them the power to fly or could it rather be some sort of “spiritual flight” rather than a physical one? This question is linked to what is called a “flying ointment” and that is a hallucinogenic mixture of poisonous plants like Belladonna, Henbane or Mandrake, amongst other ingredients that may vary according to the source of the recipe. It is reported in numerous sources that the consumption of such plants lead to a trance that suggests the users that they are actually flying. Mixed with folk beliefs, wishes and assumptions about witchcraft the flying ointments fueled the imagination of the people and lead to an illustrious mixture of spiritual experience and superstition.
ca. 32 x 32 cm / ca. 12,6 x 12,6 inches. This patch is designed by myself and screen printed by my partner in our home. Each patch is printed and cut individually by hand. The colours I use are eco friendly water based screen printing inks, the fabric is black cotton canvas.
IMPORTANT INFO: After they're sewn on the patches are machine-washable at 40°C. To avoid fraying please make sure to fold the edge inward with an iron prior to sewing it on and use stitches that go around the edge (like buttonhole stitches) rather than stitching parallel to the edge.
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