Australian Aboriginal Male

ClassificationsSculpture

Datemid 19th - early 20th Century

Made AtAustralia, Australia

Collection SiteSydney, New South Wales, Australia, Australia

MediumPlaster and pigment

Dimensions11 1/4 × 6 3/4 × 5 in. (28.6 × 17.1 × 12.7 cm)

Credit LineThe George Stanley Lodin Collection

Object number2015.17.40

DescriptionPlaster casts such as this were typically made by Westerners in the 19th century, a time when ethnography informed ideas about evolution and the civility of specific cultures. Plaster casts were made of individuals from many countries throughout the world, particularly those colonized by European powers. These casts were then commonly displayed at ethnographic museums, world’s fairs and exhibitions. Such casts could also be made by scientists at fairs and exhibitions where people from different colonies and cultures were exhibited to the public. If the note on the base of this cast is accurate, this cast depicts an Australian male who was sculpted from life. The identity of this subject and details of his life are currently unknown.

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