{"product_id":"rare-georgian-bone-memento-mori-articulated-skeleton-in-bone-coffin-english-c-1750-1820","title":"Rare Georgian Antique Bone Memento Mori — Articulated Skeleton in Bone Coffin, English, c.1750–1820","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exceptionally rare find...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003ememento mori coffin and articulated skeleton\u003c\/strong\u003e, almost certainly of \u003cstrong\u003eBritish origin,\u003c\/strong\u003e 18th century\/early 19th century, circa 1750-1820. It is unusual to find both the coffin and the skeleton together, as many become separated over the centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003eThe Coffin\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe box is constructed from \u003cstrong\u003eflat-sawn bone plates\u003c\/strong\u003e — almost certainly cattle bone — edge-jointed and pinned with bone pegs. The coffin profile is the classic \u003cstrong\u003ehexagonal\/shouldered form\u003c\/strong\u003e that became standard in British burial practice from the mid-18th century onwards. The slightly domed, barrel-vaulted lid is entirely characteristic. The construction technique — multiple flat plates assembled to form a three-dimensional form — is typical of the prisoner-of-war bone work tradition, but this piece reads as a \u003cstrong\u003evernacular or folk memento mori\u003c\/strong\u003e rather than PoW work, being cruder and more emotionally raw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe interior retains what appear to be \u003cstrong\u003edried leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e, possibly originally aromatic herbs — bay, perhaps — used as symbolic burial \"bedding.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003eThe Skeleton\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eArticulated at the \u003cstrong\u003eshoulders, elbows, hips, and knees\u003c\/strong\u003e with fine bone pins. The torso is a single carved piece with rendered ribcage and pelvis; the skull has defined orbital sockets and bared teeth. The carving is confident but folk in register — this is not professional ivory-carving, but it is skilled bone work. The articulation allows the figure to be posed (image 4 shows it propped sitting upright).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance, Tradition \u0026amp; Context: \u003c\/strong\u003eThese objects sit within the \u003cstrong\u003ememento mori \/ \u003cem\u003evanitas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e tradition — a physical reminder of mortality. British examples are known from the 17th century onwards, with a strong concentration in the Georgian period when mortality was highly medicalised and sentimentalised. Comparable pieces appear in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMuseum of London\u003c\/strong\u003e collections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWellcome Collection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eArthur Ackermann\u003c\/strong\u003e tradition of curiosity dealing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eEdinburgh Coffins\u003c\/strong\u003e (c.1836, National Museum of Scotland) represent the most famous British comparator — seventeen tiny carved figures in coffins — though those are wood and of disputed purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe pale, slightly translucent quality of the bone, the construction method, and the tight joinery all suggest \u003cstrong\u003ecattle or horse long bone\u003c\/strong\u003e, not ivory. Age-consistent patina throughout — no suspicion of later manufacture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Please refer to the images. Age-related discolouration to the bone, commensurate with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eLength 11.5 cm x Width 4.5 cm x Depth 2.5 cm (4½ × 1¾ × 1 inches)  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53596841247062,"sku":"HAFbonemementomori\/vantis","price":1950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0782\/7462\/5878\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_ce5d1ce2-a29c-4b8f-bef1-df488dcefec9.jpg?v=1778515927","url":"https:\/\/holtantiquefurniture.com\/products\/rare-georgian-bone-memento-mori-articulated-skeleton-in-bone-coffin-english-c-1750-1820","provider":"Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}