Collection

Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890.

Made:
1850-1890
designer:
Frederick Bridges
Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890.
Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890. Glazed phrenological bust, 1850-1890.

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
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Science Museum Group Collection
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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
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A pair of phrenological busts, glazed earthenware, British, 1901-1970

Unusually large, glazed phrenological bust displaying 35 named organs on one side and their four collective groupings on the other. Possibly by Frederick Bridges (d. 1883) who ran The School of Practical Phrenological and Physiology (1858-1883) in Liverpool, England and who, in 1877, was producing a bust of identical proportions but with his signature and date and number of the bust, this bust has no such identification.

Details

Category:
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
Object Number:
1979-592
type:
phrenology, brain, mind and plaster cast
credit:
Wallace Antiques Ltd.

Parts

Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970

Phrenological head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970

Phrenological bust, glazed earthenware, unsigned, British, 1901-1930

More

Phrenologists believed that the shape and size of various areas of the brain (and therefore the overlying skull) determined personality. Phrenological heads were used as reference guides for people carrying out consultations. 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. However, phrenology was still studied in the United Kingdom until 1967, when the British Phrenological Society finally closed.

Measurements:
overall: 330 mm x 150 mm x 180 mm, 1.365kg
Materials:
glazed earthenware
Object Number:
1979-592/1
type:
phrenological head
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970 Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970

Phrenological Head, United Kingdom, 1901-1970

Phrenological bust, 'A Study of Mind', of glazed earthenware, unsigned, British, 1901-1970 (see note).

More

Phrenologists believed that the shape and size of various areas of the brain (and therefore the overlying skull) determined personality. Phrenological heads were used as reference guides for people carrying out consultations. 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. However, phrenology was still studied in the United Kingdom until 1967, when the British Phrenological Society finally closed.

Measurements:
overall: 460 mm x 155 mm x 155 mm, 3.995kg
Materials:
earthenware, glaze
Object Number:
1979-592/2
type:
phrenological head
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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