Witch Ball / Alchemist Apothecary Glass

Witch Ball 3D Model Info

This is a medieval alchemy lab apothecary glass that can be used as a witch ball 3D model. And no – it is not a crystal ball 3D model. It’s a jar rather than a fortune teller’s equipment it may resemble.

The model is low poly with Specular Glossiness textures. See wireframe preview.

Polycount info: 1068 faces / 2088 tris

UV mapped: YEs, non overlapping.

Textures shared with potion phial to complement your scene.

You get 1 mesh with 2 texture sets (silvered and golden colour version).

Format: Interchange FBX

Included Textures

Download includes

• PBR SpecularGlossiness texture maps in 1024×1024 resolution.
• PBR Cryengine SpecularGloss textures in 1K resolution

2 texture sets for different colour versions:

• silver
• red

Textures provided in slightly compressed tiff formats:

• Diffuse
• Glossiness
• Normal
• Specular
• Height

Witch Ball PBR Cryengine texture maps:

• _diff (Diffuse)
• _ddna (NormalWithSmoothness)
• _spec (Specular)

Usage info

This 3D apothecary spherical jar can be uses as name suggest witch ball asset for game or any Digital Content Creation (DCC) that supports FBX and Specular Glossiness workflow. It works well with Blender 3D EEVEE renderer. In the matter of fact quick preview renders were made using blender. Keep in mind that preview images have been compressed.

What can you use the asset for?

For video games or 3D project with any even slightest fantasy or supernatural aspect. Think CGI projects, VFX, dioramas, renders, medieval alchemist lab, witch hut, alchemy lab environment, level design and CGI scene dressing. Pretty much everywhere where superstition and supernatural elements may be desirable in your 3D art. Please take a look at images I’ve quickly rendered from different perspectives. As I mentioned above I used Blender 3D, Specular BSDF shader and EEVEE renderer for setup.

Some Witch Balls Facts

Historically witch balls (sphere shaped glass jars ) were used in the United Kingdom (England to be specific) in 16th – 18th century and being hanged in the windows of the households which supposed to protect dwellers and prevent bad spirits, evil spells, witches, ghosts, gasts from entering the house. A gast translates to ghost in old English. Apparently in some regions of England the witches balls are still being used although I find it hard to believe. You can read up more on British Amulets and Charms here in this short article by Gerald Brosseau Gardner.

So what is it? –  you may ask. It’s kind of witch’s crystal ball, but it is not. The purpose of the this glass is to catch bad spirits and hold them trapped inside. Some believe that breaking one of these when the spirits or bad spell is inside can be fatal to the wretch. Perhaps one should consider a magical potion vial in such occasion that could help ward off bad spirits and survive such a supernatural scenario.