Miniature ivory skull in a silver case, Europe, 1840-1920

Made:
1840-1920 in Europe
Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-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-NC-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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Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Miniature skull, carved ivory, on brass stand, having silver guard with hinged opening, European, 1840-1920

Inside the silver cage is a roughly carved ivory skull without the lower jaw. The model was probably used as 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:
A201368
Materials:
skull, ivory, stand, brass and guard, silver
Measurements:
overall: 46 mm x 32 mm x 34 mm, .049 kg
type:
skull
credit:
Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)