Creepy Haunted Objects You Should Never, Ever Bring Into Your Home

#1 The Hands Resist Him

Terrifying people for decades, both face-to-face and on the Internet, this supremely creepy painting – created in 1972 by artist Bill Stoneham – was posted on the online auction site eBay in 2000, with claims that it was haunted and carried a curse.

Depicting a life-size doll and a stern-looking boy stood before a doorway behind which disembodied hands reach towards the children, rumours of the supernatural powers of the painting soon spread across the Internet. The anonymous seller on eBay warned that the figures in the painting changed form at night, fighting each other and even coming out of the painting into the house – with the doll also coming to life on the canvas and holding a gun to the boy’s head.

The seller included pictures that purportedly proved that the figures shifted form. The ad also contained the warning, ‘Do not bid on this painting if you are susceptible to stress-related disease, are faint of heart or are unfamiliar with supernatural events.’

People who viewed the painting online reported fainting, being violently ill or children running screaming, terrified of the image. Take a look – what do you think?

#2 Robert The Doll

Once owned by a boy named Robert Eugene Otto who lived in Key West, Florida, it’s believed this spooky toy dressed in a sailor’s uniform was given to the child by a family servant who practised black magic and disliked the family, having been maltreated.

The little boy Robert named the 3ft-high doll with black, beady button eyes after himself, and used to talk at length with the toy. He took the doll everywhere, snuck it bites of food at the dining table and treated it like a living person – even going to the lengths of insisting his mother call him by his middle name, Gene – as ‘Robert’ was the doll’s name.

Gene soon began to blame mischief on Robert and, when he was chatting to the doll, servants claimed they could hear responses spoken in a low voice… Neighbours also said they’d see Robert moving from window to window when no-one was home.

As Gene grew up, the doll was put in the attic and remained in the house after his death in 1974. Subsequent tenants said they’d hear footsteps up there, while a plumber who’d heard giggling had turned around only to see Robert The Doll had moved across the room on his own.

A reporter who visited the doll claimed he could tell it was listening to his conversation, and that Robert’s expression soured after one person called Gene an old fool.

Robert now resides in the Fort East Martello Museum. Those who visit him believe they must ask his permission before taking a photograph – and the exhibition is full of letters from those who didn’t, begging for Robert’s forgiveness after runs of bad luck…

#3 “Elmo Knows Your Name”

Elmo is a popular character from Sesame Street and Elmo doll was programmed to memorise his owner's name. Unfortunately for little James Bowman, his puppet started chanting "Kill James" continuously, freaking everybody out and making his mum throw the toy away.

#4 The Dibbuk Box

A dibbuk box is a wine cabinet which, according to Jewish folklore, is said to be haunted by a restless, evil spirit that is capable of haunting and possessing the living. One particular dibbuk box became famous when it was listed on eBay along with a terrifying backstory.

The story began in September of 2001 when an antique buyer and refinisher attended an estate sale in Portland, Oregon. The auction was held to sell off the belongings of a 103-year-old woman, and her granddaughter informed the antique dealer of the woman's past when she noticed that he had purchased a simple wooden wine cabinet. The old woman had been Jewish, the only one of her family members to have survived her time in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. When she immigrated to the United States, the wine cabinet and two other items were the only things she brought with her.

The woman's granddaughter explained that her grandmother had always kept the box hidden away, and said that it should never, ever be opened because it contained a malicious spirit called a dibbuk. She requested that the box is buried with her, but since doing so went against Jewish tradition, her family did not oblige. When the antique dealer asked the granddaughter if she would like to keep the box for sentimental reasons, the woman vehemently refused, becoming very upset and saying, "We made a deal! You have to take it!"

The dealer took his purchase back to his shop and placed it in his workshop in the basement. Immediately, strange and frightening things started happening. He was called by his frantic shop assistant, who said that the lights had gone out, the doors and security gates had locked, and she heard terrible sounds coming from the basement. When he investigated, he discovered a terrible odour of cat urine lingering in the air, and every light bulb in the place had been smashed.

The dealer gave the wine box to his mother as a gift, and the woman immediately suffered a major stroke. In the hospital, she spelt out, "H-A-T-E G-I-F-T" as tears spilt from her eyes uncontrollably. He attempted to give the gift to several more people, but it was always returned to him within a few days, usually because people just didn't like it, or because they felt that something about it was evil. He began suffering from a recurring nightmare, and he later found that all of his family members who had been around the box were having the same dream. He started seeing shadow figures darting around in his peripheral vision, as well.

After finally admitting that there was something paranormal happening, he went online to research and fell asleep at his computer. When he woke up, he felt like something was breathing on his neck, and when he turned his head he saw a huge shadow figure dashing away from him down the hall. He then decided to list the item on eBay, along with a detailed account of what had happened to him since obtaining the box.

Jason Haxton, the curator of a medical museum in Missouri, purchased the box from the eBay auction. He later wrote a book detailing the strange story of the dibbuk box, and in 2012, a horror movie based on the book entitled The Possession was released.

#5 The Myrtles Plantation Mirror

Myrtles Plantation is an allegedly haunted bed and breakfast that is largely considered to be the most haunted home in the United States, as well as one of the most haunted houses in the world. The plantation dates back to 1796, and it was built on a Native American burial ground. Additionally, it is rumored to be the location of at least ten murders, and paranormal events are an almost daily occurrence.

Perhaps the most haunted item on the premises is a mirror that was added to the home in 1980. Guests of the plantation have reported seeing figures lurking in the mirror, as well as child-sized handprints on the glass. Legend claims that the mirror contains the spirits of Sara Woodruff and her children. The Woodruffs were poisoned to death, and though custom dictates that mirrors should be covered after death to prevent spirits from getting trapped, this mirror was not covered, so the belief is that the Woodruff souls are very much present and active within the mirror.

#6 Haunted wedding dress

Housed in a museum, this gown is said to sway eerily from side to side on its own accord. Investigators have so far failed to explain how this dress appears to dance on its own – especially during a Full Moon – ruling out droughts and other natural causes.

The frock was once owned by Anna Baker, a Pennsylvanian girl from a rich family who, in 1849, fell in love with a poor iron worker. Ashamed, her father refused to let Anna marry her sweetheart. Angry and bitter, Anna never fell in love again and lived a life of spinsterhood until she died in 1914.

Before the sad event, Anna had bought herself a beautiful wedding dress – the one now housed in the museum. Some say the dress bobs and sways on its own within its glass case, as Anna’s spirit returns to admire herself in her wedding gown.

#7 Belcourt Castle's Chairs

Newport, Rhode Island is one of the oldest towns in the United States. Settled in 1690, by the early twentieth century the seaport town had become a hot summer destination for some of America's wealthiest families. The mansions of Newport are legendary, as are the many ghost stories that accompany buildings that have been around for so long.

Belcourt Castle was founded by Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, a wealthy American socialite and politician, in 1894. There are many different documented hauntings within this lavish home, but perhaps the most famous haunted objects in the castle are two chairs that reportedly have spirits attached to them. Visitors who sit in the chairs say they immediately feel cold, queasy, and uncomfortable. Their hands feel like they're pricked by static electricity when held near the chairs, and many people have claimed that they've felt like they're sitting on someone when they attempt to sit in the chairs. Several visitors have actually been ejected from the chairs by an unseen force.

#8 Kiss The Blarney Stone

For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate.

Once upon a time, visitors had to be held by the ankles and lowered head first over the battlements. Today, we are rather more cautious of the safety of our visitors. The Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. The prize is a real one as once kissed the stone bestows the gift of eloquence.

The Blarney Stone is said to be a double-edged sword - kissing it results in good luck, but chipping it in any way may cause job loss, health complications, and bankruptcy.

#9 The Cursed "Chair of Death"

In 1702, a convicted murderer named Thomas Busby was about to be hanged for his crimes. His last request was to have his final meal served at his favourite pub in Thirsk, England. He finished his meal, stood up, and said, "May sudden death comes to anyone who dares sit in my chair."

The chair remained in the pub for centuries, and patrons would often dare one another to sit in the cursed seat. During World War II, airmen from a nearby base frequented the pub, and locals noticed that the soldiers who sat in the chair would never return from war.

In 1967, two Royal Air Force pilots sat in the chair, only to crash their truck into a tree just after they left. In 1970, a mason tested his fate in the hot seat, only to die that same afternoon by falling into a hole at his job site. A year after that, a roofer who sat in it died after the roof he was working on collapsed. When the pub's cleaning lady tripped and fell into the chair, she died shortly afterwards from a brain tumour.

This list goes on, and finally, the pub owner moved the chair into the basement. Unfortunately, even in storage, the chair claimed another victim. After a delivery man took a quick rest while unloading packages in the store room, he was killed in a car accident that same day.

Eventually, the pub owner donated the chair to the local museum in 1972. The museum displays the chair by hanging it five feet in the air so that no one can possibly sit in it by mistake again. Fortunately, no one has sat in the chair since.

#10 The Eye of Brahma

The precious stone is actually an amethyst stolen from another Hindu temple. All of its owners and their families suffered either financially or medically.

It had several female owners, many of which committed suicide and the new owner Charles F. Winson split the diamond into three pieces to break the curse.

#11 The Curse Of James Dean's “Little Bastard”

"Little Bastard" was the name of James Dean's car he was driving when he died in the accident.

That “Little Bastard” not only killed James Dean but killed and maimed others who came in contact with it causing many to say that the damn thing was cursed. George Barris, who customised the 550 originally, bought the wrecked carcas of “Little Bastard” for $2500 and soon after it slipped off its trailer and broke a mechanic's leg. Not long after Barris sold the engine and drivetrain to Troy McHenry and William Eschrid. While the two were both racings against one another in cars that had parts from the “Little Bastard,” McHenry lost control and hit a tree, killing him instantly and Eschrid was seriously injured when his car suddenly locked up and rolled over while going into a turn.

Barris still had two tires from the 550 which was untouched in Dean’s accident. He sold them and not long after, both blew out simultaneously causing the new owner’s car to run off the road. Barris had kept the car in his possession sans the sold parts and it caught the attention of two would-be thieves. One of the thieves arms was torn open trying to steal the steering wheel while the other was injured trying to remove the bloodstained tartan seat.

Due to all the incidents involving “Little Bastard,” Barris decided to hide the car but was convinced by the California Highway Patrol to lead the cursed heap to a highway safety exhibit. The first exhibit was unsuccessful as the garage that housed the car caught fire and burned to the ground. Mysteriously the car suffered virtually no damage from the fire. The next exhibition at a local high school ended abruptly when the car fell off its display and broke a nearby student’s hip.

The curse continued when the “Little Bastard” was being transported when the truck carrying the car lost control which caused the driver to fall out and somehow get crushed by the car after it fell off the back. The car fell off of two more transport trucks while travelling on the freeway fortunately not injuring anyone. The CHP decided that it had had enough of the “Little Bastard” and while transporting the car to Barris, the car mysteriously vanished and has not been seen since.

There are stories of a single piece of “Little Bastard” residing at the Historic Auto Attractions museum in Illinois, but we’re not brave enough to find out.

#12 Letta the Romani Doll

Letta was made by a Romani man for his son that unfortunately drowned. While not associated with evil, it is said that the doll is possessed by the boy, has a pulse, causes the feeling of grief in people and animals and rainfall when taken outside.

#13 +359 888 888 888

While a phone number isn't, in fact, an object, it's still said to be cursed, as all of this number's owners died a sudden death, including two Bulgarian mobsters who were shot and a mobile company's CEO, who died of cancer at the age of 48.

#14 The Anguished Man

This terrifying-looking artwork was created partly from paint, and partly from the artist’s own blood. He then committed suicide shortly after its completion.

Sean Robinson’s grandmother stored the painting away in her attic for 25 years – it was an unwanted gift that she claimed was evil, causing black shadows to appear and disembodied moans and cries.

As soon as Robinson took the painting into his home, he and his family started experiencing the same kinds of creepy phenomenon. His son fell down the stairs, his wife felt something stroking her hair, and they saw the shadow man and heard crying.

Robinson decided to set up a camera overnight to try to capture some of the strange events on tape.

#15 Watch the video:

Robinson's YouTube videos show slamming doors, rising smoke, and the painting falling from a wall for no reason.

Frightened, Robinson soon put the painting down in his basement, but he is not interested in selling it.