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An extraordinary casket-style funerary urn, crafted in the 19th century from ebonized wood and embellished with significant gilt-bronze mounts.

The body of the urn features a refined architectural structure, defined by slender gilt linear decorations that trace the object's contours, creating an elegant contrast with the deep black of the surface.

At the center of the front panel lies a sophisticated gilt-bronze composition featuring a central skull flanked by two wings, all enclosed within an elaborate frame of scrolls and ornamental motifs. The skull serves as the focal point of the decoration, introducing the *Memento Mori* theme—a symbol of the transience of life and the inevitability of death.

What makes this piece particularly striking are the two large gilt-bronze wings attached to the sides of the casket. Their presence transforms the structure into a powerful, visually arresting allegorical composition.

The lid, also made of ebonized wood, features a faceted profile and refined geometric gilt decoration. The front retains its original functional elements, including the lock and the opening ring.

The interior reveals an equally interesting construction: the compartment is entirely lined with wood displaying rich, evocative grain patterns that contrast sharply with the black exterior.

The internal structure, hinges, and construction details further attest to the piece's exceptional craftsmanship. In terms of size, decorative quality, and—above all—its unique combination of a funerary casket, skull, wings, and gilt bronze, this is a highly dramatic object of great interest to collectors of funerary art, *Memento Mori*, *Vanitas*, and *Wunderkammer* pieces.

An artifact that blends function, symbolism, and theatricality in a truly unusual form.

Period: 19th century

Materials: ebonized wood, gilt bronze, metal elements

Dimensions: 58 × 27.5 × 20 cm (23" x 10.8" x 7.9")

Weight: approx. 1.75 kg