Antique English ceramic Phrenology head quill or pen and ink holder circa 1845

Dated: 1845 Staffordshire England

A very rare and fine antique period English ceramic phrenology head in the form of a pen or quill holder ink well.This version with the gilt script is the rarest and most impressive of this form. The gilt script and definition is unrubbed and in fine order. The plinth base is impressed “By F Bridges Phrenologist". Frederick Bridges, was a renowned English phrenologist. He was author of the book “Phrenology Made Practical”, which was popular enough to have reached several editions. Phrenology, is the study of the shape of the skull which was thought to correlate with specific localised brain functions. It remained popular in Europe and America throughout the 19th century (but was shown to be unfounded by Magendie as early as 1843). The principal British centre for phrenology was Edinburgh, where the Edinburgh Phrenological Society was established in 1820.

Dimensions: 5.5 inches high

Current Condition: Fine clean condition with no restoration.

Literature: Phrenology (from Greek: φρήν, phrēn, "mind"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") was a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules. Developed by German physician Franz Joseph Gall in 1796, the discipline was very popular in the early 19th century. Ref. Wikapedia.

£985    $1132