The best jewellery inspired by Hocus Pocus

By Kim Parker

They put a spell us….Almost 30 years after the Sanderson Sisters – in the form of Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy – wreaked havoc on the town of Salem in the first Hocus Pocus movie, the trio have finally been reunited for a second outing.

Hocus Pocus 2, which has just premiered in New York, is the highly-anticipated sequel to the classic 1993 film, and follows a roughly similar story, in which unsuspecting teenagers accidentally set loose a coven of wicked sisters on modern-day America.

And while fans of the film now have the perfect excuse to dig out their favourite witchy costumes for Halloween, with complimentary spooky jewels (of course), there’s actually a long tradition of wearing bejewelled spiders, beetles or frogs which goes far beyond novelty accessories.

The rapid changes caused by the Industrial Revolution in the Victorian era saw many people uproot their rural lives in favour of urban life in towns or cities. As a result, the countryside became a romanticised place, a source of nostalgia for those who had left it behind. This renewed love of nature saw natural motifs like insects, birds, frogs and snakes being incorporated into jewellery, which were viewed as genteel and virtuous.

These motifs also fed into the Victorian obsession with symbolic jewellery, used to transmit secret messages of love and affection between those in the know. Butterflies, dragonflies and caterpillar motifs became enormously popular as symbols of change, transformation and seizing the day. Meanwhile, Prince Albert’s diamond, ruby and emerald-studded engagement ring for Queen Victoria was shaped like a snake – a symbol of wisdom and deep commitment.

Set against all of this was the ‘Egyptomania’ frenzy that also consumed Victorian society, which had begun with the Napoleonic campaigns in Egypt from 1798 to 1801, and the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. It caused a craze for Egyptian artefacts and had an enormous impact on the design, art, literature and architecture of the time. Scarab beetles, worshipped by the Egyptians as symbols of new life, death and resurrection, joined the Victorian jewellery menagerie as popular motifs amongst the well-heeled. Women even wore iridescent scarab and beetle shells in necklaces and bracelets, a trend that still continues to this day.

So whilst pumpkins and black cats are all very well, take a leaf from Victorian society and opt for beautifully-crafted critters and bejewelled bugs instead of novelty jewellery this haunting season. Winnie, Sarah and Mary Sanderson would heartily approve. If they had hearts, that is.

Here, we round up the best and gem-encrusted creepy-crawlies that are perfect for celebrating Hocus Pocus…

Theo Fennell

Stephen Webster

Susan Caplan at Liberty London

Annoushka

Bibi Van Der Velden

Margaret Jewels

Cece Jewellery

Robinson Pelham

Elsa Peretti at Tiffany & Co.

Kirstie Le Marque

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