What do you think?
Rate this book
Undying Faces: A Collection of Death Masks
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
- GenresHistory
354 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 16, 2021
This phenomenal and rare textbook is a translation and reprint from the original 1927 German edition. Because of both the age of the content as well as a scarcity in information on death masks, this version's facsimile, while quite decent, does include some faint, handwritten notes on the pages of photographs featuring masks and reproductions. They do not detract from the enjoyment of the collection.
Undying Faces is the most comprehensive history, explanation, and exploration of effigies and death masks that I've ever found in a single book. The author gives a detailed account of the origin of these masks and how their usage differed across multiple European countries and throughout the centuries until they developed into the death masks we most recognize today—mostly those of the mid to late 1800s, prior to the ease and growing convenience of photography and thus, postmortem photography. The author is certain to also cover the various methods of constructing masks, which for my own research purposes, was vital information.
The final portion of the book consists of a massive photography collection of masks, beginning in the 1300s and ending in the late 1800s. The author includes the individual's name, dates of birth and death, their profession and aspects of their life, who created their mask, where (as of 1927) the original or reproduction was currently housed, and includes an impressive bibliography.
This text is an absolute treasure trove when it comes to learning about an extremely niche subject that is, unfortunately, often misrepresented online and by modern mindsets. If the reader has a grasp on French, Italian, or German, this will be especially useful, as the author includes many letters or quotes throughout the biographies of the dead that are left untranslated from their original mother tongue. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you've got an interest in the history or artistry of this unique memento mori, or simply enjoy expanding your knowledge, this text is a rabbit hole of endless "wows" and "oh my Gods."
Undying Faces is the most comprehensive history, explanation, and exploration of effigies and death masks that I've ever found in a single book. The author gives a detailed account of the origin of these masks and how their usage differed across multiple European countries and throughout the centuries until they developed into the death masks we most recognize today—mostly those of the mid to late 1800s, prior to the ease and growing convenience of photography and thus, postmortem photography. The author is certain to also cover the various methods of constructing masks, which for my own research purposes, was vital information.
The final portion of the book consists of a massive photography collection of masks, beginning in the 1300s and ending in the late 1800s. The author includes the individual's name, dates of birth and death, their profession and aspects of their life, who created their mask, where (as of 1927) the original or reproduction was currently housed, and includes an impressive bibliography.
This text is an absolute treasure trove when it comes to learning about an extremely niche subject that is, unfortunately, often misrepresented online and by modern mindsets. If the reader has a grasp on French, Italian, or German, this will be especially useful, as the author includes many letters or quotes throughout the biographies of the dead that are left untranslated from their original mother tongue. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you've got an interest in the history or artistry of this unique memento mori, or simply enjoy expanding your knowledge, this text is a rabbit hole of endless "wows" and "oh my Gods."
Displaying 1 of 1 review