Jeremy Bentham's Auto-Icon

skeleton

Articulated dressed skeleton of Jeremy Bentham with waxwork head. Includes walking stick, chair and original mummified head. The original head is not on display. The auto-icon of Jeremy Bentham is Bentham’s articulated skeleton, padded with tow and wood wool and dressed in his own clothes, shoes and hat, a wax head (including some of what may be his hair), his walking stick, the chair he is bolted to and his preserved head. According to Bentham in his last will, his friend Dr. Southwood Smith was to 'put together in such a manner as that the whole figure may be seated in a chair usually occupied by me when living in the attitude in which I am sitting when engaged in thought in the course of time employed in writing.' The skeleton was to be 'clad in one of the suits of Black occasionally worn by me, and with the 'Chair and the staff in my later years borne by me.' He also requested that 'the soft parts' i.e. the organs, be preserved, but these have been lost.

Dr Southwood Smith, Thomas (creator) (1788-12-12 - 1861-12-10)

1832 to 1833

As per Jeremy Bentham's will

Thomas Southwood Smith dissected the body of Jeremy Bentham, prepared the Auto-Icon and commissioned the waxwork head

human remains, wood, linen, wool, silk, steel, hair, wax, cardboard, straw, Glass

Bentham, Jeremy, Southwood Smith, Thomas (Creator and owner)

Jeremy Bentham Auto-Icon Collection

LDUJB-01

UCL Science and Engineering Collections