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List of phrenological heads available from Guy Aîné, Musée phrénologique, Paris, with an invoice

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2939

Scope and Contents

This is a promotional broadside for the Paris Phrenological Museum, with the models supplied by naturalist and model maker Guy Aîné. There is also an invoice on a preprinted invoice form is for one phrenological head, dated 1843.

Content warning: this collection contains racist and outdated language and concepts.

The list of heads is divided in fur categories:
- "Crânes de différentes races humaines" ("Skulls from different human races): examples of various human races and nationalities from Bolivia (including "from the ancient tombs of Carangar"), Java, Mozembique, Khoekhoe (using the racial term "Hottentote"), Malabar, Bengal, Patagonia, Caribbean, Bedouin. The list also includes orangutans' and chimpanzees' heads.
- "Têtes entières remarquables" ("Noteworthy full heads"): full head models of well known personalities, mostly French contemporaries, but also including Walter Scott, Gall, Spurzheim, etc. Some of these were specifically produced for the museum, others acquired by exchange.
- "Crânes célèbres et Masques remarquables" ("Famous skulls and noteworthy masks"): skull models or death masks of remarkable figures such as Danton, Voltaire, Mirabeau, but also Wordsworth, Bacon, Dante, Franklin, and Herschel.
- There is also a fourth category, with no price, entitled "Suppliciés" (roughly, "Executed Criminals"), listing the names of famous criminals.

Dates

  • Creation: 1840-1843

Creator

Language of Materials

French

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Biographical / Historical

The French wax model maker Guy Aîné (sometimes written without a capital "a", Guy aîné) was based in the Rue de l'Ecole de Médecine - as "Préparateur d'anatomie artificielle". He produced anatomical models made of papier-mâché or wax, but also sold osteological models, and obstetrical midwifery manikins for teaching purposes.

Full Extent

2 Sheets ; 18 cm x 22.5 cm and 31.7 x 21 cm

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in May 2026. Accession no. SC-Acc-2026-0090.

Processing Information

Catalogued by Aline Brodin in June 2026, using information provided by the seller.

Title
List of phrenological heads available from Guy Aîné, Musée phrenologique, Paris, with an invoice, 1840-1843
Author
Aline Brodin
Date
June 2026
Description rules
Isad(g)2
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379