20 "Cursed" Objects You’ve Never Heard Of

The Kentucky Historical Society describes a 19th-century chest of drawers in its collection, commonly known as the “Conjured Chest”—which is already quite unsettling. It has long been associated with a series of deaths in the family’s history linked to it. Whether you view it as a folk legend or a cautionary tale, it’s the kind of artifact that makes people lower their voices when they talk about it.

The curse of this stone is linked to the writer and scientist Edward Heron-Allen, who claimed that it brought him bad luck and had it sealed away with warnings. After his death, it was donated to a museum with the warning note still attached, perpetuating the legend through an unusually traceable chain of custody. 

Found near Silchester in the 18th century, this large gold ring from the Roman period (also known as the Senicianus ring) has a rather unusual history. The “curse” is not so much a modern rumor as it is a practice from the ancient world: a similar curse tablet from Roman Britain appears to invoke divine punishment in connection with a dispute over theft. 

Say what you will, but this is indeed a genuine Roman lead curse tablet from Lydney Park, which accuses Senicianus of stealing a ring. It then demands that his health be taken away until he returns it to the temple of the god Nodens. It is part of the archaeological records, along with details such as the material, dimensions, context of discovery, and current location. 

Discovered during excavations around 1979–1980, these 130 Roman "cursed tablets" call upon the goddess Sulis Minerva to punish thieves and return the stolen goods. They are on display at the Roman Baths Museum, and their texts have been studied for their everyday language and social history—not just for their eerie nature. 

Dating back to around 3500 B.C., this object was discovered in Cyprus, where it subsequently gained a sinister reputation for bringing tragedy to its successive owners. Local media have circulated this story, linking it to specific collectors and a series of misfortunes, although the “curse” remains a matter of belief. 

Discovered in 1971 in a spring in Chamalières, this lead tablet contains one of the longest surviving texts in the Gallic language and is considered a cursed inscription. To this day, its significance is both academic and unsettling; it is an essential artifact for understanding Gallic writing and ritual practices. 

Discovered in 1983 in a tomb at L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac, this tablet is in fact another major Gallic curse text, dating from around 100 A.D. Modern scholars regard it as an account of a magical conflict (often described as involving groups of rival women), although its complete translation remains uncertain. 

In Middle Kingdom Egypt, the names of enemies were inscribed on objects such as figurines, bowls, or clay blocks, which were then ritually smashed to symbolically destroy them. While they may not be associated with a terrifying story, they are often considered “cursed objects” in their own right, created with the intent to convey hostility. 

Despite its nickname, the “unlucky mummy” is a painted coffin lid acquired by the British Museum in 1889. Over time, it has gained a reputation for bringing bad luck, and myths about it quickly began to spread. The British Museum maintains this object in a verifiable historical catalog, even though the stories vary.

This one is a bit different, as it is a special case within the broader English tradition of “howling skulls,” with written accounts dating back to the 19th century describing a skull that is said to cause disturbances if it is moved. The stories generally portray it as connected to a slave and a violated funeral wish.

While we’re on the subject, why not mention Burton Agnes Hall? This place is linked to a legend involving Anne Griffith and rumors of trouble if the skull were ever removed. Accounts of the story differ as to the skull’s current location, but what they all have in common is how a physical relic became the central focus of a haunted tradition.

The sacred square is a famous square of Latin letters found in various places and across different eras, notably in ancient inscriptions and, later, in medieval ecclesiastical contexts. Although it is often regarded as a word puzzle, it also has a long history in charms and folk practices, hence its reputation as a “magical object.” When carved into stone or written as a talisman, the object itself becomes the bearer of supposed power.

Bill Stoneham may have painted it in 1972, but its reputation didn’t really take off until an eBay listing in 2000 claimed it was haunted. Of course, the Internet jumped on it. The documented history includes the exhibitions, the owners, and the exact moment when the urban legend went viral. 

This painting’s notoriety stems from its owner’s claims about a disturbing story and persistent paranormal incidents. Even sources that view it with skepticism document how the legend developed and how the painting became a recurring horror topic on the Internet.

A series of reproductions depicting a child in tears became linked to an urban legend after tabloids reported that they kept reappearing unscathed after house fires. The story eventually gained such traction that public bonfires were organized to burn these reproductions. 

This plantation is a historic site with a long history of ghost stories, and one mirror in particular is said to be haunted by spirits because it was not covered up after the deaths. Skeptical investigations have cast doubt on certain parts of the story, but the mirror remains a central feature of the site’s documented folklore.

This painting by Edwin Landseer, dating from 1864, hangs at Royal Holloway, University of London, and is inspired by the story of the doomed Franklin expedition. Over the decades, students have developed a superstition that sitting near this painting during exams leads to failure, and a tradition has grown of covering the canvas during exam periods.

The legend of the Basano vase is a delicate one. On the one hand, it is widely known and considered a notorious tale of a cursed object. On the other hand, the essential details—names, places, and a verifiable chain of custody—are particularly vague. That said, uncertainty is part of its reputation: it is repeatedly described as reappearing, causing deaths, and then being disposed of, with few verifiable details. 

Fans of controversial stories are already familiar with this one. But for those who aren’t, the manuscript has a well-documented modern saga: it was reported stolen, then acquired for approximately 7 million euros by the company Aristophil, and its notoriety has fueled an aura of bad luck in the collective imagination. French authorities even declared it a national treasure just as it was about to go up for auction. Think of it as the curse of chaos, crime, and notoriety.