The Spark of Spiritualism
Event: The Fox Sisters Speak
1848, Hydesville, New York, USA
Teenagers Margaret and Kate Fox claim to communicate with a spirit in their home via a series of coded knocks. Their story spreads quickly across the U.S., sparking public fascination with séances, spirit mediums, and the concept of contacting the dead through physical means.
Why it matters: This moment laid the cultural and emotional groundwork for the rise of tools like the planchette as instruments of communication with the spirit world.
Event: The invention of the automatic writing planchette
1853, Paris, France
Details:
French spiritualists begin experimenting with a small, heart-shaped board mounted on two castor wheels, with a hole to hold a pencil. The device allowed the hand to move freely across paper, supposedly guided by spirits. These early planchettes were used strictly for writing—not yet associated with boards.
Why it matters: This invention became the foundation for all later planchettes, introducing the idea of a passive writing tool driven by unseen forces.
The Boston Planchette: From Séance to Parlor
Event: The planchette arrives in America
1858, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Details:
Boston quickly becomes a hub for Spiritualist innovation. Commercial versions of the planchette are produced and sold widely. These were often made of mahogany, cherry, or walnut, and featured elegant craftsmanship. The “Boston Planchette” gained popularity in intellectual and artistic circles, and was often used in salons and private gatherings.
Why it matters: The Boston Planchette introduced the automatic writing tool to the American public, blending utility with spiritual purpose and high-end woodworking.
Cultural Craze / Commercial Boom
Event: Planchettes go mainstream
1860s-1880s, US and UK
Details:
Planchettes become a cultural sensation. Newspapers publish accounts of ghostly messages, and advertisements tout the tool as both entertainment and a scientific curiosity. Major toy and novelty companies begin mass-producing planchettes. Writers like Mark Twain and Arthur Conan Doyle express interest in spirit communication.
Why it matters: The planchette transitions from obscure spiritual tool to popular parlor instrument—blurring the lines between mysticism and leisure.
The Ouija Board Overtakes the Planchette
Event: The launch of the Ouija Board
1890, Baltimore, MD, US
Details:
The Ouija board, originally called the "Wonderful Talking Board,” was patented and marketed by Kennard Novelty Company. Unlike the planchette, the Ouija board allows for spelling out messages directly without writing. Its simplicity and sensational appeal push the planchette out of the spotlight.
Why it matters: Though the Ouija board dominates the market, many practitioners still prefer the raw, intimate experience of the writing planchette.
Event: Skepticism rises, but the tradition lives on
Details:
As psychology and science advance, public interest in séances declines, and spiritual tools like planchettes are labeled as superstition. However, occult societies and mystics, including Theosophists and automatic writers, preserve the use of the writing planchette in more private, ritual contexts.
Why it matters: This era sees the planchette retreat from public view, but deepen in meaning for those who continue to use it.
Event: Rebirth in alternative spiritual circles
Details:
During the rise of the New Age movement, interest in divination and spiritual self-exploration grew. While the Ouija remains controversial, the planchette quietly re-emerges in artistic and metaphysical communities. DIY and handcrafted versions begin circulating among niche spiritual groups.
Why it matters: The planchette regains its identity as a tool of introspection, not just entertainment—used for journaling, energy channeling, and even mediumship art.
New Age Resurgence
Event: Craftsmanship meets mysticism
1960s–1990s, Global
Details:
In an age of digital overload, seekers turn back to tactile, intentional spiritual tools. Artisans and woodworkers begin designing custom, handmade planchettes using ethically sourced hardwoods, sacred geometry inlays, and traditional finishing techniques. The Boston-style planchette is reborn as both a functional tool and a spiritual heirloom.
Why it matters: Today’s handcrafted planchettes echo their 19th-century origins—blending ritual, design, and deep personal meaning.
Bespoke Designs
2025, Northern Virginia, US
Discover our handcrafted Boston-inspired planchettes and carry on a tradition of conscious, heart-led communication with the unseen.