Rare American Bronze Sculpture Bust of “Unknown Woman” by Malvina Hoffman

MALVINA CORNELL HOFFMAN
United States, 1887-1966

"The Cap - A Mask of an Unknown Woman"

Verde patinated bronze over raised on acrylic veneered plinth
Signed on the back "M. HOFFMAN", in graphite on bottom-front "M. HOFFMAN"

8 3/4" H [total]
5 3/8" H [bronze] x 3 3/8" W x 3 1/8" D

ref. 601LTS18A

Rather scarce and inordinately elegant, this fine model is identified by Malvina Hoffman in a letter she wrote to her collector as as a bust of an "Unknown Woman", but it is a curious identification that certainly appears to be a bust of the Russian dancer Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), whom Malvina Hoffman greatly admired and in many ways worshiped. They were close friends with and Pavlova together with her troupe worked with Hoffman as models for her various sculptures. Hoffman made another "Mask of Anna Pavlova" in 1924, a tinted wax example of which is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art showing Pavlova with a jeweled headdress as a Byzantine Madonna.

The mask is pictured on the dust-jacket of Hoffman's book "Yesterday is Tomorrow" (see attached illustration).

A few examples of this cast have been offered over the last several decades. On September 28th of 1989, the model was offered at Christie's, New York where it achieved $ 6600. Another cast was offered in 2005 at Christie's in New York (lot 741, achieved $ 5760), which our gallery then subsequently handled. Other examples have made it to market over the years, for example with an odd chalky patination sold at Brunk Auctions in September of 2022 (lot 679, achieved $ 3250).

Finished in a nuanced verde patination, the surface is a complex display of autumnal hues with an overlay of verdigris and hints of blue in the crevices. Her features are sharp and exquisitely cast. The mask is left hollow and is mounted on an ebonized wood squared plinth, the back proper right edge of the mask signed "M. HOFFMAN". A very fine acquisition.

The bust is sold together with a signed letter from Hoffman that is believed to be referring to this precise cast, written to her client Mr. Kneedler on February 5th of 1960 after having sold him the "little green head of 'Unknown Woman'" for $ 50 (though she notes that this is a special price just for him and that if anyone else would show interest in the bust, it should be offered for $ 250) that he is to collect from her on his next trip to New York.

Artist Listings & Bibliography:

Yesterday is Tomorrow, Malvina Hoffman, present model illustrated on cover

Condition Report: A very fine presentation. No observed flaws.