Ivory female anatomical figure, Europe, 1601-1800

Ivory anatomical figure, a pregnant female, with some removable internal organs, possibly German, 17th or 18th century

Ivory anatomical figures were popular items in the 1600s and 1700s. This example shows a pregnant female. The torso is removable to show the internal organs such as the intestines. Female models such as this were almost always shown as pregnant and normally came as a pair with a male equivalent. The organs are not very detailed so it is unlikely that the model was used for medical teaching. The figure was possibly used to teach young couples about anatomy and pregnancy or it may have been a collector’s item. This example was purchased from a private collection in Florence, Italy, by one of Henry Wellcome’s collecting agents, Captain Johnston-Saint.