German amber Vanitas with skull - 18th century..., Wunderkammer...

"Memento Mori" Vanitas represented by an amber skull carved in the full round. 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. Height x width x depth: 8.6 x 7.4 x 8.2 cm. Weight 335 g. Item condition grading: **** good.