A fantastically mischievous skull stares out from the hoop of this gold mourning ring. The enamelled skull has a rather large eye sockets and an impressive row of teeth too. Inscribed for C.A. who died 13 Dec 1708 aged 67 (British Museum) #MementoMori #skull #introduction #history #histodons #historian #jewellery #art #18thcentury #WeirdHistory

Let’s take a closer look at this jaunty wooden skeleton from my earlier #introduction - It was originally part of a cabinet of curiosities alongside items such as sculptures and globes. The skeleton holds an hourglass - a reminder of the transience of time. It appeared in a 1772 inventory of Basel's Faesch Museum and can now be found in Basel Historical Museum #skeleton #MementoMori #history #histodons #hourglass #sculpture

A leaf tea fan prepares the kettle for a simple cuppa.