A boxwood almoner depicting a skull, Italy 1700.

Italy, first part of XVIII century.

Rare and unusual Vanitas in carved and engraved boxwood, in the shape of a skull. The skull had the function of collecting alms coins, it has a slit a cut at the top to place the alms offered and, engraaved at the lower part of the skull, a neck bone portion. The nape part of the neck acts as a screwed door which, once opened, allows to collect the coins inside. On the forehead, the Calvary is engraved, from which, in the center, a line delimits the cross, on the left a spear with an arrow, and on the right the straw with the sponge used for vinegar. Italy, first part of the 18th century.

2” – 5 CM H 2,75” – 6,5 CM L 1,75” – 4,5 CM D

REF: M6086