Italian ivory alchemist's stick with skulls - 18th-19th Century


elephant ivory alchemist's stick (Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797 or Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) carved in high relief on the handle and the shaft with opposing skulls; on the front of the handle a mask.
The skull was the symbol of death from the 1500s onwards; previously death was represented as a skeleton. Skulls were very popular in the Baroque period and were not only an essential part of any Wonderland Room (Wunderkammer), but also acted as contemplative reminders of mortality. Height 79 cm, width 7.5 cm. Weight 311 gr. Item condition grading: **** good. Accompanied by Ce.S.Ar. Centro Studi Archeometrici certificate of authenticity (pre-1947).

This lot is available for sale only with shipments within the European Union

THE CITES ARTICLE 8 (3b) DEROGATIONThe article 8 (3b) derogation -Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, the so-called "antique derogation”, and the article 62 -Council Regulation (EC) No 865/2006, allow to sell this kind of item (defined as pre-1947)within the European Union. Current legislation states thatif an item has been manufactured prior to June 1947 and has been significantly altered from its natural raw state for jewellery, adornment, art, utility or musical instrument before that date, a CITES certificate is not required (therefore only for material that has been “worked” before 1947, and has been transformed from its natural state by human craft)