Bidspirit auction | Male Articulate Skeleton in Coffin

Male Articulate Skeleton in Coffin Fraternal Lodge - This striking late 19th to early 20th-century fraternal ritual relic features a genuine, fully articulated adult male human skeleton housed within its custom-built lodge initiation coffin, historically utilized in Masonic or Odd Fellows temple degrees. The specimen exhibits traditional vintage wire-link articulation paired with a specialized cranial hook and carabiner mount for vertical hanging, alongside a partial handwritten paper label rendered in ink on the inner skull. The accompanying hardwood coffin is adorned with a detailed faux-tortoiseshell or flame-grain painted finish, highlighted by cast iron drop handles, and four securing brass slotted screws with six dedicated decorative accent plates at the baseline. The skeleton displays a strong, deep natural patination with minor, expected fragmentation to the nasal bridge and jaw wiring, alongside several missing and loose teeth. The robust wooden coffin is physically sound, retaining an interior tufted fabric lining that remains in remarkably good condition for its age with minimal discoloration and only light fraying, while the exterior shows typical superficial scuffs, scratches, and institutional storage wear. H 71”, W 18”, D 12”. From the collection of Dale Beeks. Please see photos for condition. Note: Pickup/Transport required. Contacts available Post-Auction.