We’ve aired our differences on blogs about mounting Elk heads on walls or using cow rugs to cover our floors. Many tend to be in favor of using these items to decorate a room, however, not without a little *twinge* -- some of us pausing for a quick moment, pondering about the once live animal.
But what about something that is human?
Remember the plastic glow-in-the-dark skulls growing up that we bought at the five and dime store? Or those out there who have bought them for your kids. They were cool, but also creepy. But if we had to handle a real human skill (excluding med students) how many of us would get squeamish? And feel, well... weird.
Christie’s (New York) just pulled a lot from the January 22nd upcoming sale. It was a real human skull from the nineteenth century that had been used as a ballot box by Yale’s elite and old Skull and Bones society (est. 1832). The skull was given an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.
The skull has a hinged flap on the top of the head and believed to have been used as a ballot box to collect votes during the cryptic society’s meetings.
Who was the one who sawed through the skull to make the lid -- bits of bone dust flying around in their eyes, nose and mouth?
top image from Haunt Your Home; second image from Huffingtom Post.
10 comments:
Wait, no! Any info on why they pulled it? Everything surrounding that Skull and Bones society is pure madness. Lauren
i'm thinking because some people thought it was too disturbing and creepy. and has nothing to do with s & b society. though i don't know.
there were tons of skulls and parts of people of opposing soldiers sent back to the states during WWII to family members and friends. now that... is creepy. skulls used by family members as paper weights on their desks...
So interesting, I figured it was deemed insensitive, Hum, don't know what I think really Soodie-There are always controversial lots -I should think anything goes. Someone will purchase privately. I for one am a bit to suspicious to ever want to own it-bad karma. On the skull and bones thing, again another "fad" out there- the idea of the momento mori was such a part of the past and death was integrated into many elements_course you know this-So now the intoxicated on Youth culture is "digging" it. pgt
No no and no. Unless you are a celebrant of The Day of the Dead!!
oh dear-I thought I left a comment-I am having trouble with this especially when I write lots! Hum? Anyway-Never for me, there are some that will grab it privately though dont you think? Bad Taste no doubt. The whole skull and crossbones "fad" is another go figure-especially in a youth obsessed world today.The symbols of memento mori meant something to people and understood its meaning an intent-Sad really.
I thought that skull was long lost or was it, that there was a native american family who was fighting to get back the remains of their ancestor? interesting...
GT, yeah, i agree with you. and especialy about the karma and a possible angry spirit hanging around. and also agreed, someone will really want it and purchase it privately.... i wonder if a skull develops a "patina" being handled and all over the century. still.. ich-ish.
karena, yes day of the dead! and skulls made from papier mache.
and GT again: very, very nice point you made about the memento mori. didn't think about that... but you're right!
megan, what? am i reading this correctly (or is it 1 am and i am brain dead) THAT skull was possibly a native american skull?!?
that would be just so much more even disturbing and wrong...
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