"Memento Mori" walking stick with bone skulls - 20th century..., Wunderkammer...

carved bone handle with skulls . Ebonised wooden shaft and sterling silver collar hallmarked "925". 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 93.5 cm, diameter 3.8 cm. Item condition grading: **** good.