LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Feb Americana Grand Format Auction #659  / 

25077

Bronze Gorham Company Lincoln Bust by Bissell

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Bronze Gorham Company Lincoln Bust by Bissell
<B>Bronze Gorham Company Lincoln Bust by Bissell.</B></I> American sculptor George Edwin Bissell (1839-1920) served with the 23rd Connecticut Infantry during the Civil War, after which he was appointed a paymaster in the Navy. After mustering out, he joined his father's marble business in Poughkeepsie, New York and worked on life-sized statues. The bust presented here is one of a series of desk-top versions of Bissell's life-sized Lincoln sculpture done for the Lincoln Monument in Edinburgh, Scotland, a memorial for fallen Scottish-American Civil War soldiers. It was made by the Gorham Company of New York. This particular bust was presented to the Honorable Everett Colby of New Jersey, as evidenced by the engraving at the bottom front of the base, which reads: "Presented to Hon. Everett Colby Foreman of the United States Grand Jury District of New Jersey April 1917 Term as a Token of Respect and Esteem by the Members Thereof". The names of the "members thereof" are engraved around the remaining three sides of the base. All of this particular engraving was surely added later, as Gorham manufactured bronze works long before 1914. On the back of the bust is etched "Geo E. Bissell" and "Copyrighted Gorham Co. Founders Q47". The letter "Q" was Gorham's code for their foundry works, and the "47" indicates that the company owned the rights to the piece being manufactured at that time. This hollow bust has a beautiful consistent bronze luster. Only a few spots show mild rubbing which only give this gorgeous piece more character.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Miscellaneous Collectibles, Larg (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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