Holbein Mug XXV: The Old Woman

Block 25 of Hans Holbein’s Danse Macabre presents The Old Woman. Frail and leaning on a cane, she is ushered toward the end by a gleeful Death playing the bagpipes. Though her journey is nearly complete, the image carries both humor and tenderness—a reminder that even the most inevitable moment can be met with a touch of absurdity.

Created between 1523 and 1525, Holbein’s Danse Macabre transforms the medieval Dance of Death allegory into a Renaissance-era critique. In this series, Death interrupts the routines of all—young and old, rich and poor, devout and debauched—delivering a message of universal fate through vivid woodcut imagery.

Each mug is handcrafted in our Morganton, NC studio. Holbein’s Old Woman scene is applied in archival ceramic decal, permanently fused into the glaze. A darkly delightful choice for lovers of gothic art and historical satire.

Dimensions: 4” height x 3.375” diameter, 12–13 ounces

As a handmade mug, dimensions and form vary slightly with each one.