Bronze on wooden base
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Art Fund
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/dora-gordine-1189" aria-label="More by Dora Gordine" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Dora Gordine</a>
Mongolian Head
Presented anonymously through the Art Fund 1928
adults
Asian
body
ethnicity
head / face
Mongolian
nationality
people
society
woman
<p>During the 1920s and 1930s, Gordine worked on a series of sculptures that represent the physiognomic characteristics of different races. The idea that people from other cultures can be studied as depersonalised ‘types’ reflects the racist, colonial attitudes of the time. It can also be linked to the nineteenth century fascination for phrenology, a study of the shape of the human skull to discover character traits and mental disposition. Gordine probably made this head in Paris, drawing on popular ideas about Mongolia rather than direct observation and experience.</p><p><i>Dora Gordine was born in St. Petersburg in 1906 and died in London in 1991.</i></p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
sculpture bronze wooden
3 May 2004 – 30 August 2004
2004-08-30
3 May 2004
2004-05-03
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2004-05-03
Turbine Hall (heads)
Collection based display
10 January 2006 – 19 March 2006
2006-03-19
10 January 2006 – 19 March 2006
2006-03-19
2006-01-10
Ben Uri Gallery (London, UK)
http://www.benuri.org.uk/
27 March 2006 – 20 May 2006
2006-05-20
2006-03-27
Hatton Gallery (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
2006-01-10
Embracing the Exotic: Jacob Epstein and Dora Gordine
Loan-out
Mongolian Head
object: 490 × 210 × 264 mm, 10 kg
Presented anonymously through the <a href="/search?gid=999999968" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Art Fund</a> 1928
<p>During the 1920s and 1930s, Gordine worked on a series of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/sculpture" title="Glossary definition for 'Sculpture'"><span>sculptures</span></a> that represent the physiognomic characteristics of different races. The idea that people from other cultures can be studied as depersonalised ‘types’ reflects the racist, colonial attitudes of the time. It can also be linked to the nineteenth century fascination for phrenology, a study of the shape of the human skull to discover character traits and mental disposition. Gordine probably made this head in Paris, <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawing</span></a> on popular ideas about Mongolia rather than direct observation and experience.
<br/></p>
<p><i>Dora Gordine was born in St. Petersburg in 1906 and died in London in 1991.</i></p>
<p>
<br/>
<br/></p>

Display caption
2004-09-10T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N04419</b> MONGOLIAN HEAD 1928
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘Dora Gordine 1928’ on back of neck.
<br/>Bronze, 13×7 1/2×9 1/2 (33×19×24).
<br/>Presented by an anonymous donor through the National Art-Collections Fund 1928.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> Leicester Galleries, October 1928 (15).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> <i>Connoisseur</i>, CXLII, 1958, p.236.</p>
<p>Modelled and <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/cast" title="Glossary definition for 'Cast'"><span>cast</span></a> in Paris. Other casts are in the Collections of Hugh Reynolds of Little Manor, East London, South Africa, Sir John and Lady Maude (bequeathed to them by Sir Michael Sadler), and the artist.</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, I
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-06T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
adults Asian body ethnicity head / face Mongolian nationality people society woman