1817 Sgraffitoed Latin Memento Mori Pewter and Lead Glass Skull Tanker

The tanker is heavily Sgraffitoed with a Latin Verso, cartouches and a large skull around the glass body.

A small section of repair/soldering is apparent on the lid finial, all areas have age related wear, ingrained dirt and oil. The tanker is also of a good proportions measuring in at

22cm in height
13cm in diameter

The inscription reads as follows, “iuvenes gaude”, “dum sum us”, “mus igit ur” and related to a set of lyrics composed, circa 1287

The lyrics reflect an endorsement of the bacchanalian mayhem of life while simultaneously retaining the grim knowledge that one day we will all die. The complete song contains humorous and ironic references to sex and death, and many versions have appeared following efforts to bowdlerise this song for performance in public ceremonies.

The song goes as follows

Let us rejoice, therefore,
While we are young.
After a pleasant youth
After a troubling old age
The earth will have us.

Where are they who, before us,
Were in the world?
Go to the heavens
Cross over into hell
Where they went through already.

Our life is brief
Soon it will end.
Death comes quickly
Snatches us cruelly
To nobody shall it be spared.

A similar example is housed in the Valentin-Karlstadt-Museum, Munich.