Undated (1928) Uniface Portrait Plaque of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Bronze. 65 mm x 89 mm, rectangular

Undated (1928) Uniface Portrait Plaque of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Bronze. 65 mm x 89 mm, rectangular with convex top. By C. Warner Williams. Macon 28-44. Extremely Fine.，Rarely seen portrait plaque featuring Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) copied from one of his better-known photographic portraits, produced during the final years of his life. The medal, as typically seen, is simple and featured a half length portrait of the artist in a business suit facing nearly front, but with his head to the right. The only embellishment is his name in five lines above his left hand at the right edge of the medal: AVG- / VSTVS / SAINT / - GAV / DENS. Examples of this type are typically unsigned, but this exceptional piece, enigmatically, is signed twice. The name of the sculptor, Warner Williams, is inscribed into the surface of the finished medal both above the first line of Saint-Gaudens name and below a simple inscribed line at the bottom of the reverse. Inexplicably, on the obverse the sculptors name is inscribed "C. WARNER WILLIAS" -- omitting the M from the last name. On the reverse, the name is correctly inscribed. This is one of Williams (1903-1982) earlier works, and is quite a fine portrait. One might speculate that he felt he should be credited with the work, and placed his name in potential spots for inclusion on future issues of the medal. As it turned out, very few examples were produced as survivors are scarce in todays market. A Medallic Art Company product, the manufacturers name is stamped into the border at the base of the medal.，，