Head Cast of William Burke, 1829 [WAM 03386.002]

Head Cast of William Burke, 1829 [WAM 03386.002]

Burke, William, 1792-1829

Plaster casts

Head

Faces

Phrenology

A hollow plaster cast of a man's head and neck. Cast has section lines, possible phrenological, sculpted onto head. Mounted on base.

From an Irish man named William Burke. During 1827 and 1828, William Burke and William Hare murdered numerous individuals in order to sell the bodies to physicians for dissection. Many of their victims were smothered since this left little evidence of foul play. Eventually they were arrested for their crimes. William Hare turned state's evidence to save his own life. William Burke was convicted and executed in 1829.

1829, circa

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Casts

J. B. S. Jackson, "The Descriptive Catalogue of the Warren Anatomical Museum," (Boston: A. Williams & Company, 1870), 713.

"A Catalogue of Phrenological Specimens Belonging to the Boston Phrenological Society," (Boston: John Ford, 1835), 9.

M. H. Kaufman & Robert McNeil, "Death masks and life masks at Edinburgh University," British Medical Journal, Volume 298 (London: February 1989), 506-507.

George Combe, "Answer To "Observations on the Phrenological Development of Burke, Hare, and Other Atrocious Murderers By Thomas Stone, Esq.", The Phrenological Journal and Miscellany, Volume VI (Edinburgh, August 1829 - December 1830), 1 - 14.

image

physical object

Warren Anatomical Museum Catalog Number: 03386.002

The specimen is originally from the collections of Dr. J. G. Spurzheim and Mr. J. D. Holm of London. It was then collected by the Boston Phrenological Society. After the society's active existence was terminated, it was purchased by John Collins Warren.

Cast

29.5 H x 19 W x 22 D cm