An Antique Halloween

We're getting close to Halloween weekend and here at Alfies we're getting into the spooky spirit of this ancient Pagan festival!

Also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, Halloween was originally the Gaelic festival of Samhain, which was a harvest festival celebrating the last crops gathered in for the winter. The pagans also believed it was a time when the walls between our world and the next became thin and porous, allowing spirits to pass through.  As for the custom of wearing costumes, it was traditionally believed that the souls of the dead wandered among us until All Saints' Day, and 'All Hallows' Eve' gave the dead one last opportunity to take revenge on their enemies before moving on to the next world. To avoid being recognised by the ghosts who might seek them out, people would wear masks and costumes to disguise themselves.

Alfies has a whole host of ghoulish goodies to keep you entertained this Halloween - and Payday! - weekend. Here are a few of our favourites:

'Brain Drain', by Peter Holland, 1966. A mechanism on the back allows red liquid to be inserted to give the impression of blood spewing from the head. From Mark Eaton.

French horse skull From Mark Eaton.

Victoria Frances 20th Century vampire print. From John Cserny Fine Arts.

Vintage mannequin hand,  from Mark Eaton.

Lead Martin Brothers style jug. From Good Time Antiques. 

Victorian brass devil figural inkwell and pen stand, with hinged lid. From Good Time Antiques. 

Set of four 1940s cranberry wine glasses, from W&L Antiques. 

One of a selection of 1960s silver charms. From Good Time Antiques. 

Sphinx enamel frog brooch. From Gloria Sinclair.

Need a break from shopping? What could be better than a spooky stop off at Alfies' Roof Top Kitchen and terrace?