
- Skull
- Enlarge image
Skull
- Object:
Bead, possibly a rosary bead
- Place of origin:
Spain (made)
- Date:
1580-1630 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Carved jet
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons FSA
- Museum number:
A.66-1926
- Gallery location:
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery, case 2, shelf 2
Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela.