Wednesday 5 September 2018

Ashmolean Museum - "Remarkable" Spellbound Exhibition Now Open


"Irresistibly creepy"
The Telegraph
"Mesmerising"
The Times
"Remarkable"
The Financial Times
NOW OPEN
 

SPELLBOUND

Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft

Spellbound at the Ashmolean Museum
"Bewitching"
The Economist
Spellbinding stories, fascinating objects...
from crystal balls and magic mirrors to witch bottles and curse poppets, explore the history of magic over eight centuries in this immersive and thought-provoking exhibition.
Find out more
BOOK NOW

Get in Free – Join Online Today

Ashmolean Members get in FREE to all exhibitions and enjoy behind-the-scenes activities as well as a 10% discount in the shop, cafĂ© & restaurant.
Become a Member
Exhibition supported by
The Bagri Foundation  |  The Wellcome Trust  |  University of East Anglia
The Spellbound Magic Circle  |  The Patrons of the Ashmolean
Spellbound: Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft
Spellbound: Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft

Exhibition Tours

3.30pm every Wednesday
Join one of our free guided exhibition tours for an in-depth look at the exhibition. Tours are free with the price of admission and no additional booking is required.
Book your ticket
Spellbound: Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft

Workshops & Talks

Find an event
Learn more about magical thinking, and the objects on display in the exhibition, at one of our special talks, tours, short courses or workshops.
Book your place
Prognosticator, c. 1500 © The Science Museum, London

Curator Talk

11am, Sunday 30 September
Join Spellbound curators, Dr Sophie Page and Professor Marina Wallace, to explore the visual culture of magic over a thousand years. From medieval angels and demons to magical objects concealed in modern homes.
Book now
Shopping at the Ashmolean

Exhibition Shop

Online & at the Museum
Discover our new range of gifts, books, bags, jewellery, prints, art supplies, fashion, games and much more, all inspired by our new Spellbound exhibition.
Shop online
Ashmolean After Hours

Ashmolean After Hours

Until 8pm Friday 28 September
We're keeping our doors open late so you can explore the museum after our normal closing time or enjoy an evening viewing of Spellbound. With music, bars and special talks and workshops.
Find out more
Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant

Rooftop Restaurant

New autumn menu
Dine on the terrace or gaze out of the huge windows as you enjoy lunch, cocktails, dinner, or afternoon tea, with views of the Oxford spires. View the menu and book your table online today.
Book your table
Spellbound: Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft

Exhibition Catalogue

Buy Online
Discover how the use of magic is driven by our strongest emotions: the need to be loved, our fear of evil and the desire to protect our homes. Explore the practice of magic in the medieval universe, the idea of the witch, and contemporary ideas about magical thinking.
Buy online

Also this month

Damien Hirst, The Severed Head of Medusa, 2013. Gold plated silver. Private Collection. © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2018

Damien Hirst Sculpture

The Severed Head of Medusa, 2013
This sculpture by world-renowned British artist and art collector Damien Hirst (b.1965) will be on display in the Greek World Gallery, juxtaposed with a Medusa terracotta tile from c. 540 BC, until 1 Feb 2019.
Find out more
Baby Ashmoles

Baby Ashmoles

10.30am every Friday in September
Meet in the galleries for singing and sensory play for babies, and fascinating stories about our objects for adults. For parents and carers with babies under 1. Booking is required.
Book your place
Ashmolean Venue Hire

Christmas Parties

Celebrate in style
Surprise and delight your guests this Christmas. Discover our range of spaces and packages, perfect for every celebration. We also have a handful of dates remaining to enjoy exclusive use of the Rooftop Restaurant.
Get in touch

Coming soon

Free exhibitions open from 25 September

Antinous

Boy made god
A favourite of the Emperor Hadrian, Antinous drowned in the Nile in AD 130 and the emperor founded a city in his honour called Antinoopolis or ‘Antinous City’. This exhibition explores the spread of Antinous’ image and his empire-wide cult as a hero and god.
Find out more
No Offence Exploring LGBTQ+ Histories

No Offence

Exploring LGBTQ+ Histories
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, this British Museum touring exhibition explores the ways same-sex desire, love and gender diversity have been expressed culturally throughout history and across cultures.
Find out more