Antique 19th C. Abraham Lincoln Bust Statue From Life By Leonard W. Volk

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Antique 19th C. Abraham Lincoln Bust Statue From Life By Leonard W. Volk:
$9500.00

Abraham Lincoln: Original Life-Size Classical Bust by Leonard Volk. Beardless bust of Lincoln, draped in a toga, inscribed on verso "Lincoln from Life by L. W. Volk." It measures 32" tall and 22.5" across and weighs approx. 48 pounds. It has a pleasing finish and is in excellent condition. Volk originally sculpted Lincoln in the Spring of 1860, a year after completing a marble bust of

Stephen Douglas. The 1860 bust of Lincoln, termed the "Hermes" or nude bust, was produced in two sizes, 12" and 24" in height and twice-marked with the June 1860 patent date. After Lincoln's death, a more demure version was produced with the Roman toga added. It is hard to date these, as they were not dated and widely copied by unscrupulous competitors. Typically, these knock-offs had some alterations in the height, width or shape of the shoulders and shape of the pedestal or base, "Henneck & Co., formators, made the draped version of the bust (as well as the life mask and hands), with the written authorization of the sculptor [in 1890]." Given the quality it appears to be an original, "authorized" version in outstanding condition. It was likely given to a professor at a college in 1897 from his class of students.