Miniature coffin with moveable skeleton, from Mexican Day of the Dead festival

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This mini-coffin is one of a range of items made for the Mexican Day of the Dead festival (31 October - 2 November). Families use these to decorate altars (ofrendas) dedicated to dead relations. The skeleton reminds us that we will all die.

This miniature black wooden coffin has a hole in its lid and, inside, a shrouded skeleton which tilts up by pulling a string at the coffin's end. The lid has painted white swirls and an inscription 'Solos contra el destino' (we face destiny alone).

The Mexican Day of the Dead festival combines the Christian feasts of All Souls' Day (31 October) and All Saints' Day (Todos Santos, Hallowmas, 1 November) with pre-Christian beliefs, in celebrating the return of the dead with feasts and offerings.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-333-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.1423
• Date: 1999
  
• Material: Wood; paint, white; fired clay; string; fabric. Inscription: Solos contra el destino [We face destiny alone]
  Coffin / skeleton / miniature
  
• Dimensions: 32 mm H x 86 mm L x 36 mm W
  
• What: Coffin / skeleton / miniature
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Central America, Mexico
  Mexico, Mexico City (Sonora Market)
  
• Event: Mexican Day of the Dead festival
  
• Description: Miniature black wooden coffin containing a moveable shrouded skeleton, the lid has painted white swirls and an inscription `Solos contra el destino`, made for the Mexico Day of the Dead festival, 1999
  
• References:
  • Carmichael, E. and Sayer, C. The Skeleton at the Feast, Texas, 1997 
  • Carmichael, E. and Sayer, C., The Skeleton at the feast. Texas: 1997 
• Translations:
• Related Records: