[Anatomical mannikin].
Information About This Item
Title
[Anatomical mannikin].
Date
18th century
Description
Ivory. Possibly from Germany.
Ivory manikins such as this one may have been used as educational tools by male doctors. It’s not clear who was the intended audience for the objects. Were they used to demonstrate basic anatomy to medical students? Or laypeople? Or were they simply luxury objects, curiosities to be kept in a doctor’s study?
Most of the ivory anatomical manikins still extant today are pregnant females. The artist of this figure even connected the fetus to the womb with a small piece of thread to represent the umbilical cord.
Most of the ivory anatomical manikins still extant today are pregnant females. The artist of this figure even connected the fetus to the womb with a small piece of thread to represent the umbilical cord.