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Joan the Wad

 Joan the Wad, queen of the lucky Cornish piskeys, is also sometimes described as a will o the wisp.  She is associated with fire and light, as Wad rhymes with mad and is a colloquial term for a torch or bundle of straw.  A booklet from 1871 includes the poem

Jack-the-lantern, Joan-the-wad,

That tickled the maid and made her mad,

Light me home, the weather's bad. (source)

 "In traditional Cornish lore, Piskies are gentle, mischievous, short in stature and attractively childlike; they are fond of dancing and gather outdoors in large numbers to dance or sometimes wrestle through the night.  They are often described as ill-clothed or naked." (source)

Metal figurines of Joan are popular as lucky charms.

Joan the Wad
Joan the Wad original painting available through Saatchi Art.  Lucky Joan the Wad socks and stickers available through RedBubble.  Prints and other merch available in shop or through Fine Art America.

My painting is based on a 1920s brass pipe tamper - fitting for her association with fire.   As represented in the pipe tamper, Joan reminds me of Sheela Na Gig, with her big smile.

Vintage lucky pixie brass pipe tamper featuring Joan the Wad (source)

Vintage advertisement for lucky Joan the Wad figurine (source)




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