Objects the Light Forgot: 6 Haunted Antiques That Still Hold Secrets
In a world of chipped porcelain, creaking drawers, and timeworn frames, some antiques don’t just carry history—they carry something else entirely. These are the pieces people whisper about. The ones left behind at estate sales. The ones that watch you back. Here are six antiques with chilling backstories that blur the line between relic and revenant.
1. The Myrtles Plantation Mirror
St. Francisville, Louisiana, USA
Inside one of America’s most haunted homes, a 200-year-old mirror hangs silently. But silence is deceptive. The Myrtles Plantation, with its blood-soaked legends, holds many ghosts, but the mirror is said to trap a specific set: a woman and her children, poisoned in the 1800s. According to lore, their souls were caught in the mirror because it was not covered after their deaths—a Southern mourning ritual meant to prevent spirits from becoming trapped.
Visitors report seeing hand prints slowly forming on the glass, faces appearing behind them, and a sense of being watched. The mirror has never been broken, but it has never been cleaned properly either—as if whatever’s inside it wants to stay.
2. The Dybbuk Box
Origin unknown | Found in Oregon, USA
It was a simple wooden wine cabinet. At least, that’s what the antique dealer thought when he picked it up at an estate sale. But what followed was a wave of nausea, nightmares, and unexplained illness for everyone who owned it. Inside were strange items: locks of hair, a goblet, a candlestick—and something darker.
The box is said to house a dybbuk, a malicious spirit from Jewish folklore, one that latches onto sorrow and won’t let go. Even those who just touch the box claim to feel dizzy or overwhelmed with dread. It changed hands several times before ending up in a paranormal museum, where it’s locked behind glass—and behind warning signs.
3. Giuseppe Tartini’s Devil Violin
Italy, 18th century
Giuseppe Tartini was a skilled violinist. But legend has it his greatest composition, the “Devil’s Trill Sonata,” came to him in a dream after he made a deal with the Devil. In the dream, the Devil played the violin with such raw power and precision, Tartini woke up and tried to capture it on paper.
The sonata remains one of the most technically demanding ever written. Tartini’s violin, the very one he composed it on, is rumored to bring frustration, obsession, and madness to those who try to master the piece. A few conservatory students even claim to have seen shadowy figures while practicing it alone.
4. The Basano Vase
Italy, 15th century
They say it was made as a wedding gift. They also say the bride died the night she received it.
The silver Basano Vase vanished for centuries, reportedly buried with a note that read, “Beware… this vase brings death.” When it resurfaced in the 1980s, it passed from one owner to another, each dying under sudden or strange circumstances.
The pattern was clear. Authorities eventually stepped in. Some say it was hidden in a lead box and buried. Others claim it’s in the possession of a private collector who keeps it locked away. No museum will touch it.
5. “The Hands Resist Him” Painting
California, 1970s
Painted by artist Bill Stoneham in 1972, this unsettling image shows a boy and a creepy doll standing before a glass door. Behind them: a wall of disembodied hands pressed against the glass.
When the painting first went online, the seller claimed it was cursed—they heard voices, saw the figures move at night, and felt sick just being near it. Children reportedly cried when looking at it. One man claimed his printer caught fire when he tried to download a copy.
It went viral on eBay as “haunted,” and now lives in a gallery—not because it’s cursed, but because it’s unforgettable. Still, the warning remains: don’t look too long.
6. The Thrift Store Portraits
Everywhere. All the time.
You know the type: a soft-focus oil painting of a Victorian child or a stiff-lipped military man. You find them in dusty corners of thrift stores, always unsigned, always staring.
One shopper said the eyes in a portrait of a little girl followed her home. Literally. She claimed lights flickered whenever she passed it, and once found it moved to a different wall. Another buyer said his cat wouldn’t stop hissing at a painting of a man in a naval coat—until he burned it.
There are forums dedicated to “haunted thrift art” now, where users swap stories and post cursed finds. It’s a running joke online: if it looks haunted, it probably is.
Last Word
Antiques hold echoes, but some seem to hold more than that. Whether you believe in curses or not, one thing is certain: objects can carry weight beyond their material. Maybe it’s just our imagination. Or maybe the past doesn’t like being forgotten.
So next time you browse a thrift store or antique shop, ask yourself:
Who owned this? What did they leave behind?
And is it looking back at you?
