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Memento Mori Bead, by Unknown (1825, c.)
"This is an ivory memento mori, depicting a male head, a female head, and a skull conjoined. First this bead appears to have be made in the first half of the 16th century, but is made in the 19th century in France, probably Paris." (Description from…
Memento Mori Rosary bead, by Unknown (1520, c.)
"Bead from a chaplet or rosary; carved ivory with traces of red and black paint. Formed of four half-length figures placed back to back. One represents a young man in the costume of the time with cap turned up and jewelled and a fur-collared jacket…
Rosary Terminal Bead with Lovers and Death's Head, by Unknown (1500, c.)
"A string of beads is used as a memory aid in the recitation of the rosary, a multipart devotion to the Virgin. Here, the striking terminal bead announces the constant proximity of death by joining a skull to the pair of vivacious lovers. Such an…
A young couple and Death, by Goltzius (1600, c.)
Gender perspective: A single image of Death in the form of a skeleton threatens the two lovers. The skeleton's skull is covered and has long hair, normally female attributes, while playing the violin, normally a male attribute, like the man with the…