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Rosary Terminal Bead with Lovers and Death's Head

ca. 1500–1525
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 099
A string of beads is used as a memory aid in the recitation of the rosary, a multipart devotion to the Virgin. Here, the striking terminal bead announces the constant proximity of death by joining a skull to the pair of vivacious lovers. Such an image is known as a memento mori (reminder of death), as it encourages one to reflect on the transience of life.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Rosary Terminal Bead with Lovers and Death's Head
  • Date: ca. 1500–1525
  • Geography: Made in North France or South Netherlands
  • Culture: North French or South Netherlandish
  • Medium: Elephant ivory, with emerald pendant, gilded metal mount
  • Dimensions: Overall: 5 3/8 x 1 9/16 x 1 11/16 in. (13.6 x 4 x 4.3 cm)
    ivory only: 2 13/16 x 1 9/16 x 1 11/16 in. (7.2 x 4 x 4.3 cm)
  • Classifications: Ivories-Elephant, Lapidary Work-Gems
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.305
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
Corpus from a Crucifixion Group, Marble, North French or South Netherlandish
Corpus from a Crucifixion Group
North French or South Netherlandish
ca. 1400
Rosary, Elephant ivory, silver, and partially gilded mounts, German
Rosary
German
ca. 1500–1525
Ensemble, Iris van Herpen Dutch, (a, b) plastic (polyamide); (c, d) leather, plastic (acrylic), Dutch
Ensemble
Design House Iris van Herpen
Designer Iris van Herpen
Manufacturer Materialise
fall/winter 2011–12 haute couture
Rosary Bead with the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Elephant ivory, polychromy, gilded silver mount, Spanish
Rosary Bead with the Crucifixion and Resurrection
Spanish
ca. 1500–1525
Dress, Yohji Yamamoto Japanese, silk, Japanese
Dress
Designer Yohji Yamamoto
spring/summer 2005

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