English Folklore:
The word ‘mascot’ often implies a strong personal link between the luck-bringing object (which may be quite insignificant in itself) and its owner. Edward Lovett noted mascots carried by soldiers in the First World War: ‘left-handed’ whelk shells; wool gollywogs; a carved amber bead; a farthing with a hole in it, sewn to one's left brace over one's heart; a little gold Oriental figure; a Chinese coin; a metal button; a domino with ten dots; a cornelian pendant. Mascots from the same war in the Horniman Museum (London) and the Imperial War Museum include figures ofpigs, cats, and monkeys, holed stones, a mandrake, and an amber heart. Strong trust was placed in these objects (Lovett, 1925: 10-15, 18, 30, 34, 41-3, 70-2; Ettlinger, 1939: 152-62).