Incredible Dr Gall ‘Phrenology’ Skulls Snuff Box + it’s Rare exact Pattern Mould.

£7,850.00

Rare and Exceptional example of Docteur Gall Phrenology Anatomical Snuff Box remarkably with it’s original mould (made from Oxblood, sawdust, a type of bitumen and other ingredients) This pre-mould was hand carved and finished to iron out any imperfections before using the ‘lost wax’ process to cast the metal ‘form’ for steaming the pressed lid. The photograph shows identical faults on the box and mould marked in the photo in red. It is extremely rare and possibly unique to have these two together.

ps I have never seen an example of the cast metal mould although they must exist if not be very rare.

Stream Pressed then hand finished as these box’s were from Burr Walnut with a Tortoiseshell or Coloured Horn lining. The moulded edge example as in this one is the rarer type.

Circa 1820

Franz Josef Gall (German: [gal]; 9 March 1758 – 22 August 1828) was a German neuroanatomist, physiologist, and pioneer in the study of the localization of mental functions in the brain. Franz Joseph Gall Born 9 March 1758 Tiefenbronn, Baden Died 22 August 1828 (aged 70) Paris, France Nationality Germany Scientific career Fields Neuroanatomist Physiologist Influenced Cesare Lombroso Alexandre Lacassagne Johann Gaspar Spurzheim Claimed as the founder of the pseudoscience of phrenology, Gall was an early and important researcher in his fields. His contributions to the field of neuropsychology were controversial at the time and are now widely referred to as pseudoscience. However, Gall's study of phrenology helped establish psychology, contributed to the emergence of the naturalistic approach to the study of man, and played an important part in the development of evolutionist theories, anthropology, and sociology.

Rare and Exceptional example of Docteur Gall Phrenology Anatomical Snuff Box remarkably with it’s original mould (made from Oxblood, sawdust, a type of bitumen and other ingredients) This pre-mould was hand carved and finished to iron out any imperfections before using the ‘lost wax’ process to cast the metal ‘form’ for steaming the pressed lid. The photograph shows identical faults on the box and mould marked in the photo in red. It is extremely rare and possibly unique to have these two together.

ps I have never seen an example of the cast metal mould although they must exist if not be very rare.

Stream Pressed then hand finished as these box’s were from Burr Walnut with a Tortoiseshell or Coloured Horn lining. The moulded edge example as in this one is the rarer type.

Circa 1820

Franz Josef Gall (German: [gal]; 9 March 1758 – 22 August 1828) was a German neuroanatomist, physiologist, and pioneer in the study of the localization of mental functions in the brain. Franz Joseph Gall Born 9 March 1758 Tiefenbronn, Baden Died 22 August 1828 (aged 70) Paris, France Nationality Germany Scientific career Fields Neuroanatomist Physiologist Influenced Cesare Lombroso Alexandre Lacassagne Johann Gaspar Spurzheim Claimed as the founder of the pseudoscience of phrenology, Gall was an early and important researcher in his fields. His contributions to the field of neuropsychology were controversial at the time and are now widely referred to as pseudoscience. However, Gall's study of phrenology helped establish psychology, contributed to the emergence of the naturalistic approach to the study of man, and played an important part in the development of evolutionist theories, anthropology, and sociology.