The only known example of its kind, this enigmatic object may have been a prayer bead or desk accoutrement. It presents a remarkable conceit: Christ’s face on one side, Death’s on the other, and a small Man of Sorrows figure who emerges when pressure is applied on the top of the skull, activating a concealed spring mechanism. A memento mori (Latin, meaning “Remember you must die”) object, the sculpture was carved from boxwood, prized for its ability to hold fine detail on a miniature scale.