5 Most Haunted Objects in History: From Annabelle to Robert the Doll

I have a confession to make: I am obsessed with European history, specifically castles. There’s something about a stone fortress that feels like a magnet for the paranormal. In my mind, every castle is haunted, usually by a lady in a white dress, a headless nobleman, or (the absolute worst) creepy ghost children.

But here’s the thing: as much as I love a good ghost story, you will never catch me in a haunted castle alone or at night. I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that the skeptics are always the first to go. And let’s be real, Asian ghosts are on a whole different level of terrifying (if you don't believe me, go watch the original Japanese version of The Ring and try to sleep).

While we usually think of hauntings attached to places, history shows that spirits can hitch a ride on objects, too. Here are five of the most haunted objects ever recorded, and a few reasons why you should probably stick to buying brand-new toys at Target.

1. Robert the Doll: The Original Nightmare

In 1904, a young boy named Robert Eugene Otto was gifted a doll that looked part human, part Friday the 13th. Eugene named the doll "Robert," and almost immediately, the Otto household turned into a horror show.

The parents would hear Eugene giggling in his room with a second, much deeper voice. Furniture was found overturned in locked rooms, and Eugene’s toys would appear mutilated. Whenever something went wrong, the boy would simply say, "Robert did it."

Instead of burning the doll, the family moved it to the attic, because apparently, they thought attics were magical, demon-proof boxes. Passersby claimed they could see the small figure moving from window to window. Today, Robert lives in a museum in Key West. If you visit, you’re supposed to ask his permission before taking a photo. Honestly? I’d rather just stay in the car.

2. The "Hands Resist Him" Painting

Known famously as the "Haunted eBay Painting," this artwork gained notoriety in 2000. The sellers claimed that the characters in the painting, a young boy and a creepy life-sized doll, would move at night and occasionally "leave the frame."

The artist, Bill Stoneham, based it on a childhood photo, but the lore grew dark when it was revealed that the gallery owner and the art critic who first reviewed the piece both died within a year of seeing it. Even people viewing the listing online claimed to feel physically ill. Whether it's a curse or just an incredibly unsettling art style, it sold for over $1,000 to someone much braver than me.

3. Annabelle: Not Just a Movie Prop

You’ve seen the movies, but the real Annabelle isn't a porcelain Victorian doll; she’s a Raggedy Ann. The story began with a nursing student named Donna, who noticed the doll moving positions on its own. It eventually escalated to the doll leaving handwritten notes that read "Help Us" and even physically attacking a friend.

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren eventually determined the doll wasn't possessed by a child, but by a demon posing as one to get close to the girls. She is now locked in a glass case at the Warrens' Occult Museum, and legends say she’s responsible for the death of at least one visitor who was foolish enough to taunt her.

4. The Basano Vase: The Gift of Death

This 15th-century Italian silver vase was discovered in 1988 with a very clear note inside: "Beware, this vase brings death." Naturally, the finder threw the note away and sold it. Within three months, the new owner was dead. The cycle continued through four more owners, all dying shortly after the purchase. Eventually, the police had to intervene. They couldn't find a museum to take it, so they reportedly buried it in an undisclosed location. Note to self: if you find a vase with a death warning, believe the note.

5. The Myrtles Plantation Mirror

The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana is often called the most haunted house in America. One of its most famous artifacts is a mirror said to contain the souls of a mother and her two children.

Legend has it that a slave named Chloe poisoned the family with a cake. According to tradition, all mirrors should have been covered when they died so their souls could pass over, but one mirror was missed. Today, visitors report seeing handprints on the glass that cannot be wiped away and figures in old-fashioned clothing lurking just behind their own reflection.

The Takeaway

If there is one thing we’ve learned today, it’s this: if you find a creepy old doll, do not give it to your kid. Don't bury it (someone will just dig it up), and don't throw it in the ocean (a dog walker will find it). Just stay away from cursed eBay auctions and stick to the unpossessed stuff.