Woman wearing a Scold's Bridle. Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Europe, Scotland, North East, Aberdeenshire
Branks. Made of iron, a mask that covers the lower part of the face and has a triangle of metal projecting where the mouth would be. It has a heart shape and dots punched out of it, and loops which go over the top and sides of the head.
Branks or gag in iron. Jointed bars enclosed the head and were secured behind, and the projecting plate passed into mouth over the tongue. This specimen was used in the Parish of Dunnotar, Kincardineshire as a form of punishment for female scolds.
Europe, Scotland, North East Scotland, Dunnottar Kincardineshire
Collar like. Museum's 'Slip Catalogue': 'used as a form of punishment, and were attached to Church doors, Churchyard gates, or Market Cross'.
metal iron, L(collar-piece): 190 mm H(incl chain): 270 mm
Europe, Scotland, North East Scotland, Aberdeenshire
Shape: flat. Decoration: (top) ring-cross (base) debased interlace. Museum's 'Slip Catalogue': 'Lost probably when nearly new. Design would contain a blessing or charm'.
stone sandstone, carved, Dia: 37 mm Th: 10 mm
Europe, Scotland, North East Scotland, Woodend Birse Aberdeenshire
Stone, flint, found with hole through centre, used as an amulet.
stone flint, L: 43 mm Dia: 37 mm Th: 30 mm
Europe, Scotland, North East Scotland, Fordoun Kincardineshire
Hag stone. A large, elongated and unevenly shaped pebble with two holes running through one end. A cord is tied through one of the holes.
Sandstone, with natural perforations, used as a charm stone.
Europe, Scotland, North East Scotland, Kintore Aberdeenshire