Popular in Britain in the 16th and 17th century, witch boxes were used as a charm to protect the occupants of a house from a witch's spell, and to prevent a witch from entering and getting up to mischief.
The small wooden boxes were filled with herbs, pieces of rowan (believed to be a repellant for both witches and faeries), chunks of human bones, and various other odds and ends - all viewable through the glass front (what a real conversation piece...'oh, I see you're displaying Aunt Mavis there....and I presume you used some of Fido's poop?')Over the box a magic spell of protection would have been cast.
The boxes were often sold by witch hunters attempting to cause concern and hysteria about witches. Oddly enough, they (and the buyers, presumably) found nothing strange in the fact they were hawking a box that had been magically imbued with the power of protection, and contained parts of dead people.