Victorian Phrenology Head for Doctor’s Desk by Lorenzo N. Fowler, 1970s for sale at Pamono

Description

A tool of trade for the Victorian doctors desk. Crackled porcelain like Staffordshire china. A highly interesting and challenging gift, valuable home dcor.
Dimensions:
L 14 cm/ 5.5″
W 16.5 cm/ 6.5″
H 29 cm/ 11.4″
Origin:
Phrenology busts were originally created in the mid-to-late 19th century during the peak of phrenology’s popularity. They were used as educational tools and decorative items in phrenologists’ offices.
Lorenzo N. Fowler, whose name is inscribed, was a prominent phrenologist. He, along with his brother Orson Fowler, mass-produced phrenology busts and promoted the pseudoscience widely in America and Europe.
Material:
Most phrenology busts are made of porcelain or ceramic, often with a crackled glaze finish .
They are typically printed or painted with labeled sections of the brain corresponding to specific personality traits or faculties.
Production Timeline:
The original phrenology busts from Fowlers era (mid-1800s) are rare, but reproductions have been created since the late 19th century and continue to be produced today, primarily for decorative or nostalgic purposes.