Ivory memento mori

Made:
1601-1900 in Europe
Group shot of various memento mori Group shot of various memento mori Group shot of various memento mori Group shot of various memento mori Group shot of various memento mori Group shot of various memento mori Group shot of various memento mori Ivory model of a half head, half skull. Side three quarter view Ivory model of a half head, half skull. Front view

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Group shot of various memento mori
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Ivory model of a half head, half skull. Side three quarter view
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory model of a half head, half skull. Front view
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory model of a half head, half skull

One side of this carved ivory head shows a human face; the other side shows a skull. Not much is known about this model, but it is thought that it is a memento mori – literally a reminder of death and the shortness of life. The skull was the symbol of death from the 1500s onwards. Previously death was represented as a skeleton accompanied by a living victim.

Details

Category:
Anatomy & Pathology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A129116
Materials:
ivory
Measurements:
overall: 59 mm x 44 mm x 55 mm,
type:
skull and memento mori
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust