Antique 19th Century Italian Memento Mori Procession Banner

Processional banners are used in processions and during special ceremonies in the church. Funerary processional banners like the “momento mori” banners from Italy (translation: Remember You Must Die) were, of course, part of funeral processions as well as processions on All Souls Day or Good Friday.

This banner is intended to remind humans of their own mortality and their own inevitable death. On the black background, the depicted skull and cross bones are a symbol of death, which originated in the Late Middle Ages. (Today it is the only standard symbol for poison.)

In the center of the banner, the skull is shown with a golden crown to indicate that Jesus has overcome death and to comfort the members of the procession with the solace that death is not their final destination. The edge of the banner and the ribbons around the cross bones are golden yellow, a liturgical color also used during Easter, the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. For the most part, the entire banner and embroidered edges are still in very good condition.

Measures approx. 67”H x 18”W