Antique Japanese Wood and Papier Mache Rib Cage Section from Anatomical Model blow toy the carving on this is

the carving on this is really quite stunning

a form of mercury sulfide

with cradle rock Groveland ma written in panecil at upper right

produced by Mann

Antique Japanese Wood and Papier Mache Rib Cage Section from Anatomical Model blow toy the carving on this isThis beautiful sculptural curiosity is a Japanese wood and papier mache fragment half of a rib cage from what I presume was a full body model of a human skeleton. I've learned that very finely crafted wooden skeletons were first created during the Edo era in Japan (late 1700s early 1800s), when medical doctors were unable to keep human skeletons for study and teaching purposes. I would imagine this piece was made following in that tradition; I am not