Phrenological skull with articulated jaw and upper vertebrae
1801-1900
Articulated skeleton with phrenological skull inscribed in French, attached, European, 19th century (see stroke records)
In the 1800s, phrenology became popular with large numbers of people but soon became controversial within medical circles. Phrenologists believed that the shape and size of various areas of the brain (and therefore the overlying skull) determined personality.
Phrenologists also disagreed among themselves, as is demonstrated by this skull. One half of the head shows the system according to Franz Joseph Gall (1758 –1828), a German physician and founder of phrenology, and the other half shows the system favoured by his colleague, Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832). The labels are written in French.
Details
- Category:
- Anatomy & Pathology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A25407
- Materials:
- teeth, bone, teeth, ivory, articulation, metal, cartilage, cork and cartilage, leather
- Measurements:
-
approx.: length 1928 mm
with bolt in top of skull, approx.: length 1950 mm
skull, approx.: height 220 mm
skull, approx.: width 142 mm
skull, approx.: thickness 190 mm
- type:
- human remains, skeleton and phrenological skull
- credit:
- Wellcome Trust