Description:

(ABRAHAM LINCOLN)
Rare Lincoln relic: a plaster mask cast after the original plaster life mask of President Lincoln taken by sculptor Clark Mills at the White House on February 11, 1865. This is one of several Mills plaster casts known to exist, and was owned by King V. Hostik, whose provenance comes with the piece. In February 1865, Clark Mills applied a wet plaster paste to Lincoln's face, and used that initial process to recreate a mold at his studio. When the plaster hardened, Mills had a perfect casting of Lincoln's face and head. The Mills casting is notable in preserving details including Lincoln's wrinkles and pores. Lincoln's personal secretary received a bronze casting and a plaster casting from Mills' son in 1886; his daughter, Mrs. Alice Hay Wadsworth Boyd retained the plaster casting. At her death, her son, Reverdy Wadsworth, placed the plaster cast in auction at the Hartford House in Geneseo, New York. Robert Palmiter purchased it on Nov. 18, 1960, and then consigned it to the Old Print Shop in New York City. The mask appeared in the Feb. 1964 catalog (Vol. XXIII, No. 6), and was eventually purchased by Springfield, IL dealer King V. Hostick. In 1969, Hostik sold the piece to Lincoln collector Llloyd Ostendorf. The Hay mask was then sold in Bonham & Butterfield's sale of "The Lloyd Ostendorf Collection of Lincolniana" on Nov. 23, 2004 for $93,250. Another plaster mask from the original Mills cast sold at Christie's on Feb. 12, 2009 for $35,000. The Lincoln plaster life mask offered here was also owned by Hostick. It was exhibited at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in 2001. It is accompanied by original documents kept by Hostick in a manila folder penciled "Lincoln Mask" on the front. Included is Hostick's retained carbon of his March 12, 1966 letter to the Old Print Shop: "I am going to be in New York in about ten days and I will think on your adjusted offer in the Clark Mills mask. As of now, I believe I would say no and stand on my original offer to you.". Also present is the original May 3, 1966 letter to Hostick signed by Reverdy Wadsworth: "I remember the life mask of Lincoln which was purchased by Mr. Palmiter. It was one of, I believe, five such masks made by Clark Mills...". With Hostick's original undated typed description: "Clark Mills first impression life mask by Mills made in February, 1865, belonged to John Hay, Lincoln's Secretary. Two other casts are known. One of them is at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. This was quoted at the New York Antique Show at $3500.00. Now available at $3000.00. There are two in Bronze that are the property of Clarence Hay, grandson of John Hay. See 'Anthropologist looks at Lincoln' by T.D. Stuart, page 242. This shows the Smithsonian plaster cast...". Because this mask was owned by Hostick at the time of his death in 1993, it is believed that it was one of the "five such masks made by Mills" understood to exist by John Hay's grandson. Very good condition.

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January 20, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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