This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Silver model of a human skull which opens up to show a pocket watch inside inscribed with skull and cross bones
The engraved Latin phrase ”Tempus fugit” on this small model means ‘time flies’. The object was probably a memento mori, meaning a reminder of death. The tiny silver model of a human skull opens to reveal a pocket watch. This is intricately engraved with multiple skull and crossbones motifs. Such designs were associated with memento mori in the 1800s. The watch is a symbol of escaping time. According to the acqusition records for this object, the watch belonged to Queen Mary (1867-1953), wife of George V. The Queen presented the watch to Henry Wellcome in the 1930s.
On display
Science Museum: Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Details
- Category:
- Anatomy & Pathology
- Object Number:
- A103905
- Measurements:
-
overall (closed): 40 mm x 34 mm x 44 mm, .08 kg
overall (open): 40 mm x 34 mm x 78 mm,
- type:
- pocket watch
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- timepiece
- watch
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
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Rights
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Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
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