Italian ivory alchemist's stick with skulls - 18th-19th Century


elephant ivory alchemist's ...

Italian ivory alchemist's stick with skulls - 18th-19th Century


elephant ivory alchemist's stick (Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797 or Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) carved in high relief on the handle and the shaft with opposing skulls; on the front of the handle a mask.
The skull was the symbol of death from the 1500s onwards; previously death was represented as a skeleton. Skulls were very popular in the Baroque period and were not only an essential part of any Wonderland Room (Wunderkammer), but also acted as contemplative reminders of mortality. Height 79 cm, width 7.5 cm. Weight 311 gr. Item condition grading: **** good. Accompanied by Ce.S.Ar. Centro Studi Archeometrici certificate of authenticity (pre-1947).