Plaster model of the head of an executed Chinese criminal with case, made in England, c. 1910-1922
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This model head is reportedly an executed Chinese Yangstze river pirate. It is made of plaster. The long ponytail is real human hair. It is particularly gruesome because it depicts the head in great anatomical detail. Arteries, veins and spinal cord are accurately modelled across the severed neck. The head also has its own bloodstained carrying box. The origins and purpose of the model are uncertain. It was possibly used in an exhibition because it was made in England early in the last century.
Object number:
A22042
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: anatomical figure
Highly detailed models of the full human figure for artists, teachers and medical practitioners.
Glossary: human hair
used to define human remains as part of the NMSI human remains policy (from April 2007); Other terms used are 'blood' and 'human remains'