Phrenology bust

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OBJECT TYPE: N/A
DATE: 1850–1875
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 2002.0086.001

MANUFACTURER: Fowler, L.N.
MODEL: Unknown
LOCATION: London, England

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 1
Total Parts: 1
AKA: N/A
Patents: N/A
General Description: EARTHENWARE.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length: 16.0 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Height: 30.0 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: N/A
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

Group: Medical Technology
Category: Miscellaneous
Sub-Category: N/A

Manufacturer

AKA: Fowler
Country: England
State/Province: Unknown
City: London

Context

Country: England
State/Province: Unknown
Period: THIS TYPE OF BUST POPULAR C. 1850S- EARLY 1900S.
Canada: PART OF A LARGE COLLECTION OF MEDICAL ARTIFACTS, ARCHIVAL MATERIAL & TRADE LITERATURE TRANSFERRED TO CSTM IN 2002 FROM THE FORMER HISTORY OF MEDICINE MUSEUM, TORONTO ON.
Function: PROVIDES 3-DIMENSIONAL REFERENCE GUIDE TO LOCALIZATION OF MENTAL FACULTIES.
Technical: PSEUDO-SCIENCE OF PHRENOLOGY INTRODUCED BY J.F. GALL (1758-1828), WHO BELIEVED THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN (IE. MEMORY, EMOTION, LANGUAGE, ETC.) WERE SITUATED IN SPECIFIC SITES OR 'ORGANS' OF THE BRAIN. ACCORDING TO GALL, EACH OF THESE 'ORGANS' WOULD GROW OR SHRINK WITH USE & CHANGES WOULD BE PERCEPTIBLE ON SURFACE CONTOUR OF THE SKULL. PHRENOLOGISTS BELIEVED THEY COULD DEVINE CHARACTER TRAITS, SKILLS, ETC. BY PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SURFACE OF THE HEAD.
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: "PHRENOLOGY/ BY/ L.N.FOWLER" printed on lower front of bust. "L.N. FOWLER/ 337, STRAND/ LONDON." printed within elaborated scrollwork border on left side of bust; "ENTERED AT/ STATIONERS HALL." printed within similar border on right side. Following text printed on lower back of bust; "For thirty years I have studied Crania and living heads/ from all parts of the world, and have found in every/ instance that there is a perfect correspondence between/ the conformation of the healthy skull of an individual/ and his known characteristics. To make my obser-/ vations available I have prepared a Bust of superior/ form and marked the divisions of the Organs in accor-/ dance with my researches and varied experience./ L.N. Fowler." UHN catalogue no. "981.3" handwritten in black ink in lower right of back. Model of head bears markings defining 7 main areas (left half of head), and subdividing these into smaller, more specific areas and associated traits (right half of head).
Missing: SMALL CHIP MISSING FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL. GLAZE IS CRAZED ON INSIDE & OUTSIDE SURFACES. PAINTED MARKINGS ARE FADED.
Finish: OFF-WHITE BUST BEARS BLACK [SOME FADED TO BROWN] AND DARK-BLUE PAINTED MARKINGS.
Decoration: N/A

CITE THIS OBJECT

If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:

Fowler, L.N., Phrenology bust, circa 1850–1875, Artifact no. 2002.0086, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collection.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/2002.0086.001/

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