No big deal. Just a rosary bead carved in bone, from 1741, informing us that we, too, will die.
There are multiple elements presented here. One side is the face of a young man. The other side is half an older version of the man, half skull. So not only does the man have to face aging, but death as well.
Oh, and by THE MAN, I mean YOU, mortal human.
So many reminders for one bead. Can the bead even handle the pressure of all it represents? You’re only an inch tall! Way to hold it together for the past 250 years, bead.
This piece sold at auction for about €2,000. Not to me. Shame.