Witch ball stand c. 19th century

Editor: This object is called "Witch ball stand" and it dates to the 19th century. It is crafted from glass, and we don't know who made it. I find it unsettling... like something you’d find in a curio cabinet. What symbols jump out at you? Curator: The term "witch ball" is fascinating. Historically, such glass spheres, often colorful and reflective, were hung in windows to ward off evil spirits or misfortune. The twisted strands of red and yellow glass encased within this stem, they echo the dangerous yet mesmerizing nature of folklore and the supernatural. Red signifies blood, passion, vitality, or even warning. Yellow represents intellect and sunlight. Editor: So, the colors and the glass itself hold protective significance? Curator: Precisely. Think of glass as a transparent barrier. In folklore, reflections were thought to confuse or trap spirits, a mirror to hold an image, which renders a spirit powerless. Does the shattered glass surrounding the piece evoke something to you? Editor: Yes. Broken protection... a vulnerability, perhaps? The vessel above also appears to be filled with...organic matter? Curator: Perhaps herbs or a talisman. An artist is consciously constructing an image for magical protective purpose. Editor: Fascinating. I'll never look at decorative glass the same way again. Curator: Indeed. Art often holds a richer symbolic history than we initially perceive.