Detail of a Rosary Terminal Bead with Lovers and Death's Head in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 2011

Rosary Terminal Bead with Lovers and Death's Head

Date: ca. 1500–1525

Geography: Made in, North France or South Netherlands

Culture: North French or South Netherlandish

Medium: Ivory, with emerald pendant, silver-gilt mount

Dimensions: Overall: 5 3/8 x 1 9/16 x 1 11/16 in. (13.6 x 4 x 4.3 cm) ivory only: 2 13/16 x 1 9/16 x 1 11/16 in. (7.2 x 4 x 4.3 cm)

Classification: Ivories

Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Accession Number: 17.190.305

Description:

A string of beads is used as a memory aid in the recitation of the rosary, a multipart devotion to the Virgin. Here, the striking terminal bead announces the constant proximity of death by joining a skull to the pair of vivacious lovers. Such an image is known as a memento mori (reminder of death), as it encourages one to reflect on the transience of life.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/1700...