TOP PIECE!
 
Absolutely gorgeous piece of handwork. Unboxing this will be a real pleasure. Carved from one piece of wood, this model shows two human faces and on one side a skull.
 
The age for us is unknown as is the origin but seeing the patination on the wood we can guess it was made late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.
 
It measures 11.50 inches or 29.00 cm high and is 7.00 inches or 18.00 cm at its widest.
 
This type of model is thought to be a Memento mori – literally a reminder of death and the shortness of life. The skull was the symbol of death from the 1500s onwards. Previously death was represented as a skeleton accompanied by a living victim. A little background: Memento mori (Latin: "remember that you have to die") is the medieval Latin Christian theory and practice of reflection on mortality, especially as a means of considering the vanity of earthly life and the transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits. It is related to the ars moriendi ("The Art of Dying") and similar literature. Memento mori has been an important part of ascetic disciplines as a means of perfecting the character by cultivating detachment and other virtues, and by turning the attention towards the immortality of the soul and the afterlife. Memento mori Wood Carving Skull Carving, Dark Art, Skull Sculpture, Original Art, Three-faced head of two faces and a skull, Skull replica.