Phrenology cast of head of William Burke
Dublin Core
Title
Phrenology cast of head of William Burke
Subject
Casts
Grave Robbing
Phrenology
Death-Masks
Spurzheim, J. G. (Johann Gaspar), 1776-1832
Burke, William, 1792-1829
Abstract
Hallow plaster cast of a man's head and neck, painted white. Cast sculpted into pedestal base.
Creator
Combe, George, 1788-1858 (original)
Date Created
1829-1835
Rights
The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all the materials in the collection. For use information, contact the Warren Anatomical Museum Curator at chm@hms.harvard.edu
Access Rights
Accessing collections in the Warren Anatomical Museum and the Warren Anatomical Museum archive requires advanced notice. Please submit a request to Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu to access the displayed item
Is Part Of
Warren Anatomical Museum (03386.001)
Is Referenced By
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.
Format
image
Medium
death masks
Type
physical object
Identifier
WAM 03386.001
Provenance
The original of this death cast was taken by George Combe after Burke was hanged in 1829. This cast was originally in the collections of Dr. J. G. Spurzheim and Mr. J. D. Holm of London. After Spurzheim's death in 1832, it was then acquired by the Boston Phrenological Society. After the society's active existence was terminated, it was purchased by John Collins Warren circa 1842 and donated to the Warren Museum in 1847.
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
20.3 W x 25.5 D x 32.4 H"
Files
Collection
Citation
Combe, George, 1788-1858 (original), “Phrenology cast of head of William Burke,” OnView, accessed April 28, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/13118.