Porcelain Phrenological Head, British, 1801-1900

Made:
1801-1900 in Europe and United Kingdom
Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Porcelain phrenological bust, tinted skin colour, divisions labels and numbers marked in gilt, possible Derby, unsigned, British, 1801-1900.

The skull of this porcelain phrenological head has been marked off into sections and was used for phrenological consultations. Phrenologists believed that the shape and size of various areas of the brain (and therefore the overlying skull) determined personality. Although phrenology became popular with large numbers of people in the 1800s, it soon became controversial within medical circles, and was eventually dismissed by the medical profession as quackery.

Details

Category:
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A642806
Materials:
porcelain
Measurements:
overall: 320 mm x 140 mm x 170 mm, 2.045kg
type:
phrenological head