Phrenology cast of face of Varley, 1830-1835

Phrenology cast of face of Varley, 1830-1835

Boston Phrenological Society

Phrenology

Casts

Head

Plaster phrenological cast of face of Varley, likely John Varley (1778-1842), an astrologer and painter. Cast is tan in color and shows closed eyes, nose, and mouth. Back of face is hollowed out. Cast rests on round pedestal base.

Unknown

1830-1835, between

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Warren Anatomical Museum (WAM 03449)

object

1 cast

castings (object genre)

physical object

WAM 03449

This phrenological cast was likely created between 1830 and 1835 and was aquired by Dr. Johann Spurzheim (1776 – 1832) or the Boston Phrenological Society. Dr. Spurzheim, a leader in the study of phrenology, brought his knowledge and cast collection to America in 1832. After his death, the newly formed Boston Phrenological Society possessed his collection of skulls and casts. Dr. John Collins Warren purchased the collection in 1847 after the Society’s dissolution. In 1849, Dr. Warren took physical custody of the collection and temporarily transferred it to the ‘Mastodon Rooms’ on Chestnut Street before moving the collection to its intended permanent location in the new medical school building on North Grove Street. The phrenological collection was left in the basement of the old Medical School building on North Grove Street when the Medical College moved to a different building on Boylston Street in 1880. In 1911, the North Grove Street building was being demolished and the collection was almost destroyed. Dr. R. H. Fitz intervened and the collection was moved to the Administrative Building of the Harvard Medical School.

Phrenology cast

15.5 W x 15.5 D x 30 H cm