Artwork preview

Skeleton Astride a Skull

Rantei

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A light-colored skull with a small skeleton astride it. The skeleton sits atop the skull, leaning forward slightly with one leg on either side. Its arms are bent at the elbows. The larger skull has two empty eye sockets, a nasal cavity, and a toothy mouth with the bottom row of teeth visible. Three small white teeth are positioned underneath. The background is gray with a shadow cast by the sculpture.

Artwork details

Date:
late 18th–early 19th century
Medium:
Ivory
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
599 × 534 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette