At the Museum of Appalachia, in Clinton, Tennessee you can see an Angel Crown, also known as a Death Crown or Feather Crown. This unusual-looking object is a round, entangled swirl of feathers found inside a down pillow. Its significance comes from Appalachian folklore, where it's seen as a bad omen.

According to superstition, an Angel Crown found in someone's pillow foretells their imminent death — especially if they're already ill. People often destroyed the crown, hoping to save the sleeper. I'm glad I don't sleep on feather pillows, because I'd be way too creeped out if I found one of these after learning about their meaning in folklore.

The Angel Crowns on display at the Museum of Appalachia look both eerie and beautiful. The display says: "When a person died, there was sometimes fo

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