{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121673"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121673/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121673","accessionNumber":"S.117-1981","objectType":"Skull","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This human skull was given to the French actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) by the novelist Victor Hugo, after she triumphed in his historical drama <i>Hernani</i> in 1877.  Hugo inscribed a verse on it in French celebrating the joy of the spirit in contrast to its lifeless container:\r\n\r\n      Skeleton, what have you done with your soul?\r\n      Lamp, what have you done with your flame?\r\n      Empty cage, what have you done with\r\n      The beautiful bird that used to sing?\r\n      Volcano, what have you done with your lava?\r\n      Slave, what have you done with your master?\r\n\r\nSarah Bernhardt loved to surround herself with macabre objects, and as a publicity stunt had herself photographed in her coffin when she was alive.  When she played Hamlet she used this as Yorick's skull in the grave scene.","physicalDescription":"Human skull, the top of the cranium cut through horizontally and re-attached with metal clips.  The top of the cranium is inscribed with a verse by Victor Hugo.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"human bone","id":"THES273764"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Human skull","categories":[{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Shakespeare","id":"THES253244"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES301271"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"skull","id":""}],[{"text":"stage property","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":"30/07/2025 (ZH) Record isn't restricted, but the images are (temporarily) pending  formal approach to showing human remains on EtC"}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"pre 1877","earliest":null,"latest":"1876-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"MA/1/W1180","id":"ARC188542"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"Given by the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum height","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum width","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Top of the cranium is inscribed: 'Squelette, qu'as tu fait de l'âme? Lampe, qu'as tu fait de la flamme? Cage déserte, qu'as-tu fait  De ton bel oiseau qui chantait? Volcan, qu'as-tu fait de la lave? Qu'as-tu fait de ton maître, esclave?'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Skeleton, what have you done with your soul?\r\nLamp, what have you done with your flame?\r\nEmpty cage, what have you done with\r\nThe beautiful bird that used to sing?\r\nVolcano, what have you done with your lava?\nSlave, what have you done with your master?","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This skull was presented to Sarah Bernhardt by the writer Victor Hugo in 1877, inscribed with poetry by him, after he saw her perform in his play <i>Hernani</i>.  It was later used by Bernhardt when she played Hamlet (1899 onwards).  After her death, the skull was acquired by Henry Wellcome.  The Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine gave it to the Theatre Museum (Department of the V&amp;A).\n\nThe display, use, and access to human remains in our collections aligns with the Human Tissue Act 2004 and follows DCMS's Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Skull used by Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) as Hamlet, inscribed with a verse by the author Victor Hugo.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Ockman, Carol and Silver, Kenneth E. (eds.). <i>Sarah Bernhardt : The Art of High Drama</i>, New York, Yale University Press, 2005","id":"AUTH354345"},"details":"p.13","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Hugo, Victor","id":"N1315"},{"text":"Bernhardt, Sarah","id":"N1922"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.117-1981"],"accessionNumberNum":"117","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1981,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2025PD7770","2016JC1236","2016JC1234","2016JC1225"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-06","recordCreationDate":"2006-03-03","availableToBook":false}}