- 197A
Joyce, James. James Joyce's death mask, the plaster-of-paris mask c.6 inches deep, 11 inches high, [January 1941]
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Description
Joyce, James. James Joyce's death mask, the plaster-of-paris mask c.6 inches deep, 11 inches high, [January 1941]
the final visage of one of the greatest authors of the twentieth century.
James Joyce died at the Schwesterhaus vom Roten Kreuz, Zurich, at 2.15 on the morning of 13 January 1941. His wife Nora, son Georgio, and friend Carola Giedeon-Welcker had rushed to his bedside, but arrived moments too late. Perhaps as a means of assuaging their grief, Giedeon-Welcker suggested to Nora Joyce that a death mask be made of her husband. Nora consented and the sculptor Paul Speck was commissioned by Gideon-Welcker. Speck made two plaster negatives of Joyce's visage either later in the day on the 13th or the following day. Joyce was buried on January 15 at the Fluntern Cemetery (see Richard Ellmann, James Joyce, second edition, 1983, p.742).
Both original plaster masks were presented by Speck to Giedeon-Welcker who retained the pair until the late 1950s. A third plaster mask by Speck, however, was made contemporaneously and quite possibly without Nora's or Gideon-Welcker's knowledge. It remains unknown whether Speck, in fact, made three negatives from Joyce or if he used one of the originals as a mould to produce a third. What is certain is that Edmund Brauchbar, formerly a pupil of Joyce's in Zurich, acquired a plaster death mask and arranged for his son, Rudolph, to ship the item to the United States in January 1942. Paperwork required to facilitate the shipment indicates that Paul Speck produced the mask and that it was valued at 300 Swiss francs. Brauchbar, who was living in Forest Hills, New York at the time, subsequently gave the mask to the United States Library of Congress on April 19, 1946, where it resides today.
The next chapter in the story of Joyce's death mask becomes somewhat circuitous and convoluted. Up to six additional plaster masks were apparently made by Swiss sculptor Victor Dallo under the direction of Paul Speck. When these castings were made is unknown, but it is reasonable to suggest that they were completed in the early to mid-1950s. These six plaster masks are identical to Speck's original. The location of three of these masks can be identified:
Zentralbibliotheck Zurich
University of Lausanne
University of Basle
Provenance of present example: Carola Gideon-Welckler; Michael Scott (the Irish architect and founder of the James Joyce Tower, Sandycove, Dublin); the film director John Huston (as a token of appreciation for his efforts in helping the museum); his son Anthony Huston; present owner. The mask was on display at the Rosenbach Foundation from 1992 to 2000.
the final visage of one of the greatest authors of the twentieth century.
James Joyce died at the Schwesterhaus vom Roten Kreuz, Zurich, at 2.15 on the morning of 13 January 1941. His wife Nora, son Georgio, and friend Carola Giedeon-Welcker had rushed to his bedside, but arrived moments too late. Perhaps as a means of assuaging their grief, Giedeon-Welcker suggested to Nora Joyce that a death mask be made of her husband. Nora consented and the sculptor Paul Speck was commissioned by Gideon-Welcker. Speck made two plaster negatives of Joyce's visage either later in the day on the 13th or the following day. Joyce was buried on January 15 at the Fluntern Cemetery (see Richard Ellmann, James Joyce, second edition, 1983, p.742).
Both original plaster masks were presented by Speck to Giedeon-Welcker who retained the pair until the late 1950s. A third plaster mask by Speck, however, was made contemporaneously and quite possibly without Nora's or Gideon-Welcker's knowledge. It remains unknown whether Speck, in fact, made three negatives from Joyce or if he used one of the originals as a mould to produce a third. What is certain is that Edmund Brauchbar, formerly a pupil of Joyce's in Zurich, acquired a plaster death mask and arranged for his son, Rudolph, to ship the item to the United States in January 1942. Paperwork required to facilitate the shipment indicates that Paul Speck produced the mask and that it was valued at 300 Swiss francs. Brauchbar, who was living in Forest Hills, New York at the time, subsequently gave the mask to the United States Library of Congress on April 19, 1946, where it resides today.
The next chapter in the story of Joyce's death mask becomes somewhat circuitous and convoluted. Up to six additional plaster masks were apparently made by Swiss sculptor Victor Dallo under the direction of Paul Speck. When these castings were made is unknown, but it is reasonable to suggest that they were completed in the early to mid-1950s. These six plaster masks are identical to Speck's original. The location of three of these masks can be identified:
Zentralbibliotheck Zurich
University of Lausanne
University of Basle
Provenance of present example: Carola Gideon-Welckler; Michael Scott (the Irish architect and founder of the James Joyce Tower, Sandycove, Dublin); the film director John Huston (as a token of appreciation for his efforts in helping the museum); his son Anthony Huston; present owner. The mask was on display at the Rosenbach Foundation from 1992 to 2000.