The Colorado Springs Museum has the death mask of Artus Van Briggle.  He
came to Colorado Springs in 1899 in order to recover from tuberculosis,
as did thousands of other TB sufferers.  Along with his wife Anne, he
founded Van Briggle Pottery.  His pottery is known internationally for
its matte glaze and is especially popular among collectors of Art
Nouveau decorative objects.  His pieces won awards at the Paris Salon
(1903) and the St. Louis World's Fair (1904).  

Artus succumbed to TB in 1904.  Anne continued to operate the business
and a decade later constructed to the Van Briggle Memorial Pottery, on
land donated by city founder William Jackson Palmer.  This beautiful
building still stands, though it is no longer home to the pottery, and
Van Briggle tiles and carved figures are an integral part of the
building's façade.  Though owned by a number of individuals over the
years, Van Briggle pottery is still produced today and is housed in the
former Colorado Midland Railroad roundhouse.

The death mask was molded by Anne.  She, like her husband, was an artist
and designer.  The mask is on display in the Museum's Van Briggle
gallery and is one of our most popular exhibits among school children.  

The Museum has what we believe is the largest public collection of Van
Briggle pottery in the world.  We are currently in the process of
developing a traveling exhibit of about 120 pieces of Van Briggle
pottery, in conjunction with the Smith Kramer Traveling Exhibits Service
in Kansas City.  If any of you would like more information about the
exhibit, send me an email.  

Matt Mayberry
Public Programs Coordinator
Colorado Springs Museum
719-578-6650
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        ----------
        From:  Barbara Batson [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        Sent:  Monday, March 09, 1998 8:17 AM
        To:  [log in to unmask]
        Subject:  death masks

        >DJF asked:
        > does anyone know the location of famous death masks?

        The Valentine Museum (1015 E. Clay St, Richmond, VA 23219-1590,
        804/649-0711) has the Frederick A. Volck death mask of General
        Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, which was made while Jackson's
        body lay in state in the Virginia State Capitol.  Edward V.
        Valentine, the sculptor and brother of the museum's founder,
        purchased the death mask from Volck in the late 1860s and later
        made two casts from it.  One of the casts in on view at the
        Stonewall Jackson House in Lexington, Va, and the other is
        viewable in Valentine's studio, located in the garden of the
        Valentine Museum.
        --
        Barbara C. Batson
        Exhibits Coordinator
        Library of Virginia
        804/692-3518
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