Briefcase containing embalming equipment

Leather bound briefcase containing the equipment used to embalm the bodies of deceased individuals, including the equipment used to aspirate, or remove bodily fluids from, the body before injecting with embalming fluids.

In the 1980s, the equipment in this case was used by a freelance embalmer in London. After qualifying with the British Institute of Embalmers in 1984, he gradually built up this kit over the course of his career. The kit includes all the equipment needed to embalm a body. Embalming is the process of preserving a body using chemicals, slowing natural deterioration. The case was specially designed to hold the necessary equipment and chemicals easily and safely.

Embalming has a long history, but it has gone in and out of popularity. Today, it’s a very personal choice. In 2018, the UK funeral industry estimated that between 50 and 55% of bodies are embalmed.