19Th Century Memento Mori

Stock No

AOTA010

Member since
2024

£1,200.00 UK mainland shipping included

€1,446 Euro
$1,508 US Dollar

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Item Description

Small but perfectly formed this 19th century macabre memento mori oak carved skull resting on bones in its original glass dome and on an ebonised stand with bun feet.

A beautifully stylized skull with deliberately missing teeth symbolising the victory of death, that we will all die someday... Memento Mori or ‘Remember you must die.’

It sounds desperate, but some say it was meant to make humans celebrate and make more of their time on earth, to live life to the full.

The concept of memento mori has its roots in antiquity, became popular again in the 16th century, came back with a bang in the Baroque era then cemented itself as a favourite of the Victorians.

This perfectly carved piece is:

Height of Globe & Base: 15.5 cm
Width of the Globe & Base is: 15 cm
Circumference Globe & Base: 52 cm
The scull on its own:
Scull Height: 8.1 cm
Scull Width: 6.5 cm
Depth: 7 cm