19th Century French Carved Bone Memento Mori Vanitas Skull Bust of King Louis XIV
Late 19th century French carved bone memento mori vanitas bust of King Louis XIV with a skull face.
Intricately carved deer antler (not Ivory) miniature bust, set on an ebony wood base with brass top.
An impressive & striking visual display piece for a cabinet of curiosities.
A vanitas is a symbolic work of art showing the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death. 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.
Total Height: 14.5 cm / Sculpted Bust H: 7.5 cm x W: 5.5 cm / Base H: 7 cm x W: 4.5 cm.
Provenance: From a private collection in France.
Louis XIV (1638 – 1715), also known as Louis the Great (Louis le Grand) or the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715.
We currently have 3 similar memento mori miniature carved busts that display very impressively as a set. See last photo.
Late 19th century French carved bone memento mori vanitas bust of King Louis XIV with a skull face.
Intricately carved deer antler (not Ivory) miniature bust, set on an ebony wood base with brass top.
An impressive & striking visual display piece for a cabinet of curiosities.
A vanitas is a symbolic work of art showing the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death. 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.
Total Height: 14.5 cm / Sculpted Bust H: 7.5 cm x W: 5.5 cm / Base H: 7 cm x W: 4.5 cm.
Provenance: From a private collection in France.
Louis XIV (1638 – 1715), also known as Louis the Great (Louis le Grand) or the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715.
We currently have 3 similar memento mori miniature carved busts that display very impressively as a set. See last photo.
Late 19th century French carved bone memento mori vanitas bust of King Louis XIV with a skull face.
Intricately carved deer antler (not Ivory) miniature bust, set on an ebony wood base with brass top.
An impressive & striking visual display piece for a cabinet of curiosities.
A vanitas is a symbolic work of art showing the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death. 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.
Total Height: 14.5 cm / Sculpted Bust H: 7.5 cm x W: 5.5 cm / Base H: 7 cm x W: 4.5 cm.
Provenance: From a private collection in France.
Louis XIV (1638 – 1715), also known as Louis the Great (Louis le Grand) or the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715.
We currently have 3 similar memento mori miniature carved busts that display very impressively as a set. See last photo.