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Folk Luck & Everyday Charms · c. 1700 – today

Troll crosses & modern revival charms

Meaning

The troll cross (trollkors) is a loop of iron bent into a circle with crossed ends, said to protect against trolls and evil, since trolls fear iron.

Intent

It is worn as a pendant or hung in the home against trolls, elves and bad luck, and is popular in modern Scandinavian and neo-pagan circles.

Significance

It is a good example of an 'invented tradition': despite claims of antiquity, the troll cross was created in the 1990s by the Swedish silversmith Mikael Erlandsson, based loosely on a family story. It is now widely sold as a traditional charm.

History

The troll cross dates from the 1990s in Sweden. Iron as protection against trolls and supernatural beings is a genuine old Scandinavian belief.

Making yours
Bend a length of iron or silver wire into a loop crossing at the bottom with ends turned out.
Folk Luck & Everyday Charms: the tradition

Modern Europe and America kept a rich tradition of everyday luck charms long after learned magic faded: horseshoes over doors, rabbit's feet, four-leaf clovers, lucky pigs at New Year, charm bracelets. In London, the collector Edward Lovett (1852–1933) bought amulets from working people, costers and sailors, proving that protective magic was alive in the modern city, and his collection is now in the Wellcome Collection, the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Cuming Museum. Archaeologists keep finding concealed objects in old houses: shoes, witch bottles, dried cats and ritual marks at doors, windows and chimneys.

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Amulet, silver, the Netherlands, 1700-1800Amulet, silver, the Netherlands, 1700-1800Netherlands · 18th centurySilver-gilt filigree religious pendant (Trachtendeli) with pictures of saints, Solothurn (Switzerland), 1750-1Silver-gilt filigree religious pendant (Trachtendeli) with pictures of saints, Solothurn (Switzerland), 1750-1solothurn · 1750-1799Silver-gilt filigree religious pendant (Trachtendeli) with images of Maria vom guten Rat and St Lawrence, SoloSilver-gilt filigree religious pendant (Trachtendeli) with images of Maria vom guten Rat and St Lawrence, SoloSolothurn · 1750-1799Silver-gilt filigree pendant containing religious paintings reverse-painted on glass, Lucerne and Schwyz (SwitSilver-gilt filigree pendant containing religious paintings reverse-painted on glass, Lucerne and Schwyz (SwitLucerne · 1750-1850Fisherman's charmFisherman's charmSwitzerlandPrydnad eller amulettPrydnad eller amulettBoliviaornamentation, amuletornamentation, amuletPeruFröling, Winschoten (2019)Fröling, Winschoten (2019)Page from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandLiberiaStäd med trollkors i smedjan på friluftsmuséet Disagården, Gamla Uppsala 17 augusti 2008Städ med trollkors i smedjan på friluftsmuséet Disagården, Gamla Uppsala 17 augusti 2008Copper- gilt and glass, probably Meuse region, Southern Netherlands, ca.1200Copper- gilt and glass, probably Meuse region, Southern Netherlands, ca.1200Netherlands · ca. 1200amulet, phallosamulet, amuletamulet, phallosamulet, amuletBoliviaThe Talisman - geograph.org.ukThe Talisman - geograph.org.ukPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandLiberiaAmulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaI-Ch'ing house charm, Winschoten (2018)I-Ch'ing house charm, Winschoten (2018)Page from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandLiberiaamulet, stoneamulet, stoneBoliviaBordkorsBordkorsPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandLiberiaAmulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaPortliderkorsPortliderkorsPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandPage from: Tribes of the Liberian HinterlandLiberiaAmulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaPortrait of a little Boy title QS:P1476,en:"Portrait of a little Boy " label QS:Len,"Portrait of a little Boy " label QS:Lfr,"Jeune garçon" label QS:Lnl,"Portret van een jongetje"Portrait of a little Boy title QS:P1476,en:"Portrait of a little Boy " label QS:Len,"Portrait of a little Boy " label QS:Lfr,"Jeune garçon" label QS:Lnl,"Portret van een jongetje"Amulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll-crossTroll-crossAmulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll cross portal (cropped 2-1)Troll cross portal (cropped 2-1)Amulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll cross carriage house post (cropped)Troll cross carriage house post (cropped)Amulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll cross pot (cropped 2-1)Troll cross pot (cropped 2-1)Amulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll cross on table (cropped 3-2)Troll cross on table (cropped 3-2)Amulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll cross with horns (cropped 3-2)Troll cross with horns (cropped 3-2)Amulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaBronzen amulet met fallus ValkenburgZH 101065 RMO LeidenBronzen amulet met fallus ValkenburgZH 101065 RMO LeidenPhallosamulett genomborra0:. Brandt leraPhallosamulett genomborra0:. Brandt leraBoliviaTroll cross carriage house postTroll cross carriage house postAmulet from BoliviaAmulet from BoliviaBoliviaTroll cross potTroll cross potTrollkorsTrollkors2025 Maastricht Museum, vroegmiddeleeuwse grafvondsten2025 Maastricht Museum, vroegmiddeleeuwse grafvondstenGirl by a High ChairGirl by a High ChairA Little Girl with a Basket of Cherries title QS:P1476,en:"A Little Girl with a Basket of Cherries " label QS:Len,"A Little Girl with a Basket of Cherries " label QS:Les,"Little Girl with a Basket of A Little Girl with a Basket of Cherries title QS:P1476,en:"A Little Girl with a Basket of Cherries " label QS:Len,"A Little Girl with a Basket of Cherries " label QS:Les,"Little Girl with a Basket of Mesusa mit MenoraMesusa mit MenoraTroll cross portalTroll cross portalTrollcrossTrollcrossA Scene from Walter Scott's 'The Talisman' title QS:P1476,en:"A Scene from Walter Scott's 'The Talisman' " label QS:Len,"A Scene from Walter Scott's 'The Talisman' "A Scene from Walter Scott's 'The Talisman' title QS:P1476,en:"A Scene from Walter Scott's 'The Talisman' " label QS:Len,"A Scene from Walter Scott's 'The Talisman' "Troll cross on tableTroll cross on tableTroll cross with hornsTroll cross with hornsDe Nederlandse piloot, vliegenier, luchtvaartpionier Henri Wijnmalen (1889-1964) met de talisman, SFA022800416De Nederlandse piloot, vliegenier, luchtvaartpionier Henri Wijnmalen (1889-1964) met de talisman, SFA022800416Lead amulet with Hebrew tekst, 16th to 18th centuryLead amulet with Hebrew tekst, 16th to 18th century

More from Folk Luck & Everyday Charms: British folk amulets (Lovett collection) · Hagstones & witch-deterrents
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.