A plaster phrenology bust by Ambrose Lewis Vago (1839-96)

Most of the labels have worn away but the front pedestal originally read “Phrenology Each side of the head has the same organs. Approved by Fowler & Wells, New York,” and the the reverse “Published 1872 A.L.Vago 114 Gray’s Inn Road London”

The son of an immigrant Italian figure maker, Vago was born in the Holborn distric of London and died in Pancras. He also wrote the book Orthodox Phrenology in 1866 and a handbook, Instructions in the art of modeling in clay.

• From the Phisick collection