Pomander or memento mori skull

Description

A gold memento mori pomander in the form of a highly polished skull. It has deeply sunken eye-sockets and protruding cheekbones. The skull can be opened using the clasp at the top, with the back and front joined together by a hinge. A thin sheet of polished gold, engraved with the inscription: Man proposes but God disposes, separates the back and front of the skull. There are four compartments in the back for perfume or fragrant herbs. The maker is unknown, but the engraving and the inscription suggest English origin. The date 1679 is inscribed on the flat base. ?English.