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Lot description
With mobile jaw. The most famous carved skull of this kind is the Carrara marble skull sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 - 1680) in around 1655, which is now in the Dresden Sculpture Collection, SKD inv. no. ZV 3606. Bernini created the impressive work on behalf of the newly elected Pope Fabio Chigi (1599 - 1667). The skull is said to have stood on his desk until his death and reminded him daily of his inescapable fate, but at the same time it was also intended as a reminder to make the most of his life. The Saxon Elector Augustus the Strong acquired the piece from Chigi's descendants in 1728.