Vanitas - Memento Mori - Carrara Marble Skull, Italy, 18th Century

Vanitas - Memento Mori - Carrara Marble Skull, Italy, 18th Century.

An exceptional vanitas depicting a human skull sculpted from a single block of marble, most likely Carrara marble, an Italian work from the 18th century.

This rare piece on the market demonstrates a remarkable attention to anatomical realism. The cranium displays fine convolutions, while the details are rendered with great precision: deeply carved optic canals, lacrimal grooves, infraorbital canals, and particularly prominent zygomatic arches.

The sculptor also sought to suggest a sense of emptiness within the skull, perceptible at the foramen magnum, reinforcing the scientific or educational interest of the work. This characteristic might suggest its use as a study model, possibly for medical purposes.

The marble now displays a magnificent, glossy, slightly yellowish patina, attesting to its age.

A unique and particularly evocative fact: this skull was discovered by chance in an old house in Burgundy, hidden in a trapdoor behind a fireplace. Its intriguing provenance further enhances the mysterious and meditative nature of this vanitas, perfectly resonating with the spirit of Memento Mori.

The skull is complete in its original form (made without a lower jaw). Note the absence of the front teeth, without compromising the excellent overall preservation.

Dimensions: Width: 10.2 cm Height: 10 cm Depth: 12.2 cm

A high-quality work, simultaneously an object of curiosity, meditation, and collection, emblematic of the Memento Mori theme.

Price excludes shipping.

Police Register Ref: A023.

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