A Curse Upon Thee

The Hope Diamond, The Busby Chair,  The Hands Resist Him, the Crying Boy paintings and the Dybbuk Box are five of the most cursed items in our history. 

Learn how these curses grew over time and the factors behind believing something is cursed. 

Is it all in our head or is there some truth to the fears? 

Transcript

Curses have a long and varied history, appearing in cultures around the world as a means of invoking harm or misfortune through supernatural or divine powers. The belief in curses stems from ancient times, where people attributed unexplained tragedies, illnesses, or bad luck to the wrath of gods, spirits, or other unseen forces.

Egyptians were known for their powerful curses associated with tombs and mummies. The most famous example is the so-called "Curse of the Pharaohs," which is said to bring death or misfortune to those who disturb the tombs of the pharaohs, like Tutankhamun's tomb.

The Mesopotamians practiced curse rituals, invoking gods or demons to punish enemies or wrongdoers. Clay tablets with curse inscriptions have been discovered, showing the deep belief in this form of supernatural justice.

In ancient Greece and Rome, curses were often used in legal contexts. Curse tablets were inscribed with pleas to the gods or spirits to harm an enemy, often in disputes or competitions. In Medieval Europe curses took on a more personal and localized nature. Witchcraft, sorcery, and the power of the "evil eye" were feared throughout Europe. People believed that witches or those possessing special powers could curse individuals, crops, or livestock, leading to widespread persecution of supposed witches.

Even today, curses still influence people in many forms. From cursed objects, like the ones we will talk about today to famous movie sets allegedly plagued by bad luck, the concept of curses has evolved into a blend of superstition, folklore, and cultural storytelling.

Curses, in many ways, reflect humanity's attempts to explain the unexplainable, attributing misfortune to a malevolent force rather than coincidence or chance.

What goes into making an item “cursed”? 

Curses are often rooted in cultural or religious beliefs. Many cursed items have backstories involving malevolent spirits, vengeful individuals, or supernatural forces. These legends give the item a narrative of fear. A cursed item might be linked to significant historical events or tragedies. For example, an object associated with a historical figure who suffered a tragic fate might gain a reputation for being cursed.

Reports of strange or unexplained phenomena associated with the item contribute to its cursed reputation. This could include paranormal activity, accidents, illnesses, or misfortunes experienced by those who come into contact with it. The power of suggestion and the psychological impact of believing in a curse play a significant role. People who believe an item is cursed may interpret ordinary events as supernatural occurrences due to their heightened expectations.

Of course, media coverage, and pop culture can amplify the curse. Stories, movies, and news reports about cursed items can increase their notoriety and influence public perception, making the curse seem more real and widespread.

A pattern of misfortune or tragedy associated with an item can enhance its cursed reputation. If multiple owners experience similar negative events, it strengthens the belief in the item's malevolent influence. Sometimes, the physical characteristics of the item, such as its appearance or materials, contribute to its cursed status. For instance, an object with a disturbing or unsettling design may be more likely to be associated with negative events.

In some cases, the curse might be tied to cultural or religious beliefs. An item connected to sacred or taboo practices might be considered cursed within certain communities due to its symbolic significance. The behavior or actions of the owner can also influence the cursed status of an item. If an owner engages in activities or rituals that are believed to provoke or appease supernatural forces, it can reinforce the item’s cursed reputation.

Sometimes, attempts to remove or contain a cursed item can add to its lore. Efforts to burn, seal, or hide the item might be interpreted as attempts to ward off the curse, which can become part of the item's legend. Overall, the combination of these elements creates a compelling narrative that can turn an ordinary object into something feared and revered. The belief in the curse and the stories that surround the item are often what keep its reputation alive.

Episode 74 - A Curse Upon Thee

The Hope Diamond, one of the most famous and infamous gems in history, has a legacy wrapped in tragedy and misfortune. The story begins with Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a 17th-century diamond merchant, who reportedly stole the gem from the eye of an Indian idol possibly from the Kollur Mine. According to legend, this sacrilege sealed his fate—Tavernier later met a gruesome end, torn apart by wild dogs.

The diamond soon found its way to King Louis XIV, the Sun King of France. After acquiring the gem, Louis wore it proudly, but his reign ended in misery. He died of gangrene, and the diamond's curse seemed to pass to those close to him. His mistress, the Marquise de Montespan, who had once basked in the King’s favor, wore the diamond only to quickly fall out of grace, her influence fading just as rapidly as it had risen.

Then there was Nicholas Fouquet, the guardian of the French Crown jewels. He wore the diamond during a lavish event, but his fortunes took a dark turn when he was disgraced, imprisoned, and eventually executed on the orders of Louis XIV himself. The curse seemed to linger with the French monarchy, as both Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette, inherited the diamond. Their ownership would end in bloodshed—both lost their heads during the French Revolution, a symbol of the doomed royalty in the era of revolt.

But the tragedies didn't stop with the fall of the monarchy. Marie Antoinette’s dear friend, Princess de Lamballe, once wore the diamond as well. Her gruesome death came at the hands of a furious mob that tore her apart in the streets during the revolution.

The diamond eventually left France, only to bring misfortune wherever it went. Wilhelm Fals, a Dutch jeweler tasked with recutting the diamond, was murdered by his own son, Hendrik, who would later take his own life, perhaps another victim of the diamond's relentless curse. As it passed through the hands of diamond merchants and royals alike, the stories of misery multiplied. Francis Beaulieu, another diamond dealer who handled the stone, died in squalor. King George IV of England, one of its later owners, was plagued by massive debts and personal ruin.

Henry Philip Hope, the wealthy London banker from whom the diamond takes its modern name, also faced a series of misfortunes. His only son died prematurely, leaving him without an heir. His grand-nephew, Lord Francis Hope, inherited the gem but found himself mired in scandal, a failed marriage, and financial devastation. Even his wife, the American actress May Yohe, claimed to have been cursed by the stone and died penniless despite her previous success.

The diamond’s journey continued into the 20th century, and with it, the streak of misfortune. Simon Frankel, a New York jewelry broker, bought the Hope Diamond in 1901, but shortly thereafter faced severe financial hardship, especially during the Great Depression. Subsequent owners met equally grim fates: Jacques Colot, who possessed the diamond, went mad and committed suicide. Prince Ivan Kanitovski, another owner, was murdered by Russian revolutionaries, and his lover, a dancer named Mlle. Lorens Ladue, borrowed the gem only to be murdered by Kanitovski himself in a fit of rage.

The curse wasn’t just confined to royalty and diamond merchants. Simon Maoncharides, a Greek jewel broker who briefly owned the gem, drove his car off a cliff, killing himself, his wife, and their child. Habib Bey, a Persian diamond merchant, drowned in the sinking of a French steamer in 1909, another victim claimed by the jewel’s dark legacy.

Even the powerful Sultan Abdul Hamid II of Turkey wasn’t immune. After paying a staggering $400,000 for the diamond, he soon lost his empire in a military revolt. Those who worked closely with the diamond under the Sultan’s reign met grisly fates as well. Abu Sabir, the Sultan’s servant who polished the diamond, was tortured and imprisoned. Zubayda, the Sultan’s favorite concubine, wore the diamond before she was found stabbed to death. The diamond’s guardian, Kulub Bey, was hanged by a mob, and Jehver Agha, an official in the Sultan’s treasury who attempted to steal the gem, met the same fate.

The Hope Diamond's most famous American owner, Evalyn Walsh McLean, was no exception to the curse. After purchasing the gem from Pierre Cartier, tragedy followed her at every turn. Shortly after acquiring the diamond, her mother-in-law passed away, and then her first-born son died in a horrific car accident at the age of nine. Her husband spiraled into alcoholism, ran off with another woman, squandered their fortune, and eventually died in a mental institution from brain atrophy. Evalyn’s only daughter later succumbed to a drug overdose at the age of twenty-five. With her family in shambles, Evalyn was forced to sell their family newspaper, The Washington Post, before dying soon after her daughter’s tragic death.

Even those indirectly connected to the diamond faced ill-fated destinies. James Todd, a mailman who delivered the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, experienced a series of accidents after handling the package. He crushed his leg in a truck accident, suffered a severe head injury in a car crash, and eventually lost his home in a fire.

The Hope Diamond's curse is rooted in folklore and stories of dramatic misfortune. While many of the tales surrounding the curse are likely exaggerated or coincidental, they have contributed to its legend as a "cursed" object. Today, the diamond remains on public display at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and it continues to fascinate visitors with its beauty and ominous reputation.

The Busby Stoop Chair, also known as Thomas Busby’s Chair, is one of England’s most notorious cursed objects, with a history steeped in death and tragedy. This seemingly ordinary piece of furniture has a chilling reputation for bringing death to anyone who dares sit in it, and the legend behind it stretches all the way back to the early 18th century.

The story begins in 1702, with a man named Thomas Busby, a convicted murderer who, on the way to his execution, laid a terrible curse upon the chair. Busby had been sentenced to death for killing his father-in-law, Daniel Auty, after an argument, and legend has it that as he was led to the gallows, he cursed the chair at his favorite pub, warning that anyone who sat in it would meet an untimely death. Busby’s execution took place at a crossroads near the pub, which later became known as the Busby Stoop Inn. Ever since, the chair has been tied to a long series of mysterious deaths and accidents, each believed to be a result of Busby’s final, vengeful words.

Fast forward to World War II, when the chair gained even more notoriety. The Busby Stoop Inn became a popular spot for airmen stationed nearby, and some of these young soldiers were said to have taken a seat in Busby’s cursed chair. Tragically, several of them never returned from their missions, dying in combat shortly after sitting in the chair. These incidents added fuel to the belief that the chair was indeed cursed, and stories of its deadly reputation began to spread beyond the small Yorkshire pub.

By the 1970s, the legend of the Busby Stoop Chair was well-established, and more chilling tales surfaced. Among the most famous cases was the tragic fate of two Royal Air Force pilots who, after sitting in the chair, died in a car crash later that same day. Similarly, a builder who sat in the chair during his lunch break fell to his death from a roof only hours later. Another victim was a young motorcyclist who sat in the chair and later perished in a fatal crash. The curse even extended to a chimney sweep who sat in the chair on a dare—he fell through a roof to his death just hours afterward.

And the tragedies didn’t stop there. Other incidents followed, including a group of workmen who stopped by the inn. One of them took a seat in the infamous chair and later died in a car accident. In another case, a cleaning lady who accidentally fell into the chair while cleaning the pub mysteriously died shortly after of a brain tumor. The growing list of deaths and accidents linked to the chair made it one of the most feared objects in the region.

As more lives were lost, the owner of the Busby Stoop Inn decided that the chair had caused enough harm. In 1978, the decision was made to remove the chair from public access permanently. The chair was donated to the Thirsk Museum in North Yorkshire, where it remains to this day. To prevent anyone from sitting in it and falling victim to the curse, the museum has hung the chair high on the wall, safely out of reach of any curious visitors.

Since the chair was removed from the inn, there have been no further reports of deaths associated with it, but the legend of the Busby Stoop Chair continues to haunt those who hear its story. Is it coincidence, or is there truly a curse attached to this unassuming piece of furniture? No one can say for sure, but the chair’s dark history speaks for itself. With a legacy spanning over three centuries and multiple documented fatalities, the Busby Stoop Chair remains one of England’s most infamous cursed objects, a sinister relic of a long-gone era, now quietly displayed in the Thirsk Museum, still capable of sending chills down the spines of those who dare to look upon it.

Created in 1972 by artist Bill Stoneham, The Hands Resist Him painting has gained a notorious reputation as one of the most haunted pieces of art in modern times. With its unsettling imagery and the bizarre events that seem to follow it, this painting has become a legend in the world of cursed objects. Over the years, those who have owned or merely viewed the painting have reported disturbing phenomena, ranging from paranormal occurrences to feelings of dread, illness, and misfortune.

The painting depicts a young boy standing in front of a glass door, behind which disembodied hands press against the glass as if reaching out from another world. Next to the boy is a doll-like figure holding what appears to be a battery, her face devoid of any expression. According to Stoneham, the boy represents himself as a child, while the hands symbolize possibilities and alternate paths. The doll, he explained, serves as a guide between realms, adding to the eerie effect. Despite these explanations, many people have found the painting deeply unsettling.

The painting was first displayed in a Los Angeles art gallery, where it was purchased by actor John Marley, best known for his role in The Godfather. For years, the painting remained out of the public eye, its unsettling legacy unknown—until the year 2000, when it resurfaced in a way that captured the attention of the world.

In 2000, The Hands Resist Him went viral after it was listed for sale on eBay. The sellers, a family, claimed that the painting was haunted and that disturbing, supernatural occurrences had plagued their home since acquiring it. According to their eBay listing, the figures in the painting would move on their own during the night. The young daughter of the family claimed that she saw the boy and the doll stepping out of the painting and into the room. The adults also reported intense feelings of unease and dread around the painting, and they included photos in the listing showing the figures in different positions, although skeptics argued that the images could have been manipulated.

Regardless of whether the photos were real, the listing sparked a media sensation, and The Hands Resist Him became known as one of the 'most haunted' items ever sold on eBay. Paranormal enthusiasts and curious buyers flocked to view the auction, fascinated by the strange claims.

As the story of the haunted painting spread, more reports of strange occurrences began to surface. People who viewed the painting, even just images of it online, claimed to feel nausea, dizziness, and anxiety. Some reported that their electronic devices would malfunction or freeze while they were looking at the painting. One particularly eerie story involved a printer that allegedly caught fire while trying to print out an image of the painting. These unsettling experiences only added to the painting’s growing legend, as people around the world began to believe that even viewing a picture of the painting could invite paranormal consequences.

Eventually, the painting was purchased by a gallery owner, and while no major supernatural events were reported after the sale, The Hands Resist Him's haunted reputation had already been cemented. Visitors to the gallery where it was displayed claimed to feel a strange, unsettling energy in the room where the painting hung. Some reported feelings of anxiety, while others said they experienced headaches or physical discomfort. The painting continued to exude an eerie presence, even after changing hands.

Bill Stoneham, the artist behind the painting, was surprised by the attention and the paranormal stories surrounding his work. He acknowledged that there were strange coincidences tied to the painting. John Marley, the actor who first bought the painting, passed away in 1984, only a few years after acquiring it. Even more unsettling, the art critic who had reviewed the painting's first gallery show and the gallery owner who had displayed it both died within a year of encountering the painting. While these deaths could easily be dismissed as coincidences, they added to the lore surrounding the painting and its curse.

Despite the rumors, Stoneham himself does not believe that the painting is cursed. However, he admits that there is something about The Hands Resist Him that resonates with people, often in deeply unsettling ways. Whether through its unsettling imagery or the string of misfortunes connected to it, the painting has a way of evoking strong emotional reactions from viewers.

Even today, the painting retains its haunted reputation. Stories continue to circulate of people who own copies or prints of The Hands Resist Him, claiming they’ve experienced strange phenomena in their homes. Some have reported hearing disembodied voices or seeing shadowy figures after hanging a print of the painting in their home. Others have mentioned sudden temperature changes in rooms where the painting is displayed, adding to its legacy as a cursed object.

The Hands Resist Him is now in the possession of a private collector, and while it no longer draws the viral attention it once did during its eBay days, it remains a central piece of modern paranormal lore. Visitors to its gallery still report feelings of unease, and the painting’s eerie history continues to intrigue both skeptics and believers alike.

In conclusion, while The Hands Resist Him may not be a centuries-old relic with a well-documented curse, it has managed to carve out its own place in the world of haunted objects. Whether the stories of paranormal activity are the result of coincidence, suggestion, or something more, there’s no denying that this painting has captivated the public’s imagination in a unique and unsettling way. With its eerie imagery and the dark tales that surround it, The Hands Resist Him remains one of the most infamous and mysterious works of art in the world."

The Crying Boy paintings, a series of artworks depicting tearful children by Italian artist Giovanni Bragolin (also known as Bruno Amadio), became infamous in the 1980s for their alleged curse. Mass-produced in post-World War II England, the paintings gained a chilling reputation when multiple homes displaying them mysteriously caught fire. In many cases, the Crying Boy paintings were found eerily intact in the ashes, leading to widespread fear and belief in a supernatural connection.

The curse first came to public attention in September 1985 when The Sun, a British tabloid, ran an article titled "Blazing Curse of the Crying Boy." The story reported that several homes that had been destroyed by fire featured the Crying Boy painting, which somehow survived the flames untouched. The most famous case involved Ron and May Hall from South Yorkshire, who lost their home in a fire. Everything was destroyed—except for their Crying Boy painting, which remained undamaged. Firefighters began noticing a strange pattern in which these paintings were consistently found unharmed in burnt-down homes.

After The Sun published the story, numerous readers came forward claiming that their homes had also caught fire after acquiring the Crying Boy painting. In each case, the painting miraculously survived the blaze. This strange phenomenon fueled mass panic, and many people became convinced that displaying a Crying Boy painting in their home would bring misfortune. The reports of house fires connected to the painting multiplied, further embedding the idea of a curse.

Firefighters who had responded to many of these fires added to the eerie lore by testifying that they had witnessed the paintings emerge unscathed from the wreckage time and again. Some even began refusing to allow the painting in their own homes, out of fear of the supposed curse. Their reluctance only added credibility to the growing paranoia surrounding the Crying Boy.

As the belief in the curse grew, some owners took drastic measures to rid themselves of the paintings. Many began burning their copies in an attempt to lift the curse, while others simply removed them from their homes. In a dramatic gesture, The Sun encouraged people to send in their Crying Boy paintings to be destroyed. The tabloid organized a mass burning of the paintings, and hundreds of copies were sent in to be destroyed in an effort to exercise the curse.

While the public belief in the curse was widespread, skeptics offered more rational explanations. For instance, the paintings were mass-produced using a special varnish that made them highly resistant to fire, which might explain why they survived blazes when other items did not. Additionally, the sheer number of Crying Boy paintings in circulation (millions were sold in the UK) made it statistically likely that some would be in homes that experienced fires. Furthermore, many skeptics argued that the media coverage and disturbing imagery of a tearful child may have led to a psychological effect, where people attributed misfortunes to the painting out of fear and suggestion.

Despite these rational explanations, the story of the Crying Boy curse became deeply embedded in British urban legend. Even after the hysteria subsided, the painting continued to be associated with misfortune and remains a well-known part of paranormal lore. Copies of the painting are still in circulation today, and some people avoid them for fear of the curse, while others are drawn to the mysterious and infamous story behind them. The legend of the Crying Boy has also been investigated by paranormal researchers and television programs, ensuring that its eerie legacy remains alive.

As time has passed, more scientific and rational theories about the Crying Boy's fireproof qualities have emerged. The fire-resistant varnish theory is the most accepted, explaining why the paintings survived fires. Additionally, the rise in house fires in the 1980s may have had more to do with socio-economic conditions in working-class neighborhoods, where the Crying Boy paintings were popular, rather than any supernatural influence.

The Crying Boy painting remains a potent example of how unexplained events can spiral into widespread belief in the supernatural. Though skeptics have debunked many aspects of the curse, the legend endures, fueled by psychological fear and cultural fascination. Whether due to coincidence, fireproof varnish, or collective paranoia, the painting’s unsettling story has secured its place as one of the most notorious cursed objects of modern history.

The Dybbuk Box, a small wine cabinet associated with a malevolent spirit from Jewish folklore, has garnered widespread notoriety for its supposed curse. According to legend, the dybbuk is a restless and malicious spirit that can possess the living, and the Dybbuk Box is believed to contain such a spirit. The box's eerie reputation began in earnest when Kevin Mannis, an antique dealer and writer, purchased it at an estate sale in 2001. Mannis claimed the box once belonged to a Holocaust survivor named Havela, who had warned her family never to open it due to the presence of a dybbuk. Despite this warning, Mannis opened the box and soon began experiencing a series of disturbing events.

Following the box's unsealing, Mannis reported nightmarish experiences involving shadowy figures attacking him and those around him. His mother suffered a stroke shortly after receiving the box as a gift, and Mannis' home was plagued by unexplained odors and malfunctions of electronic devices. These unsettling experiences led Mannis to sell the box, passing the alleged curse onto its new owners.

Jason Haxton, the subsequent owner, a medical museum director, experienced severe health issues, including hives and coughing up blood. His family also suffered from unexplained illnesses and nightmarish visions. The box’s contents—a collection of personal and seemingly ritualistic items, including locks of hair, a dried rosebud, and a golden wine cup—are believed to be linked to the dybbuk’s presence.

The Dybbuk Box's story captured public attention when it inspired the 2012 horror film “The Possession,” which dramatized the haunting associated with the box. It was also featured in various paranormal TV shows, including "Ghost Adventures," where host Zak Bagans opened the box during a Halloween special in 2020. The event was followed by reports of strange occurrences and negative effects on those present.

Over the years, the Dybbuk Box has been linked to a range of physical and psychological symptoms experienced by those who have come into contact with it, including rashes, sudden health problems, and disturbing dreams. Kevin Mannis later suggested that aspects of the Dybbuk Box's legend might have been exaggerated, blending fact with fiction. Despite this, the box's reputation remains intact. It is currently owned by Zak Bagans, who displays it in his Haunted Museum in Las Vegas. Visitors to the museum report feelings of unease and nausea when near the box, and Bagans himself has claimed to experience misfortunes and unsettling dreams after acquiring it.

Attempts to contain or debunk the curse, including Haxton’s efforts to seal and bury the box, have done little to diminish its dark reputation. The Dybbuk Box continues to be a focal point of paranormal fascination, its legacy as a cursed object sustained by a blend of real-life events, cultural intrigue, and ongoing stories of supernatural occurrences.

As we come to the end of this journey into the world of cursed objects, it’s clear that these items have captivated the human imagination for centuries. Whether it’s the tragic beauty of the Hope Diamond, the eerie imagery of The Hands Resist Him painting, or the unsettling reports tied to the Crying Boy and Dybbuk Box, these stories all share a common thread: our deep-seated fascination with the unknown.

Cursed objects represent more than just physical items—they embody our fears, superstitions, and the belief that certain things might hold power beyond explanation. They serve as reminders that, even in our modern world, the mysteries of the past continue to haunt us, manifesting in objects that refuse to be forgotten.

Perhaps these curses are born from coincidence, psychological suggestion, or simply a pattern of misfortune. Or, maybe, they represent a darker truth—one that lurks just beneath the surface of the material world. As with all good legends, the lines between fact and fiction blur, leaving us to wonder: do these objects possess a malevolent force, or is the curse something we bring upon ourselves through belief and fear?

Whatever the truth may be, one thing is certain—these cursed objects will continue to intrigue, unsettle, and raise questions long into the future. After all, as long as we’re searching for answers, the power of these stories endures.

Let me know what you think. Nathan@curator135.com And again, visit the website to see photos and information regarding these cursed items. Curator135.com  

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