20th Century Statue of Liberty Souvenir Model

thingiverse

Before resins and plastics rose to prominence in souvenirs, pot metal was a cost-effective alternative and favored material for creating model replicas of famous landmarks. To enhance their appearance, the pot metal models were electroplated with copper to simulate a bronze finish after being cast and polished. This particular example borrowed heavily from an older version; however, it is likely that few people would notice the uncanny resemblance between this model and the first souvenir models of the Statue of Liberty produced in America. The initial models, created in Brooklyn, NY around 1884, were intended to raise funds for the pedestal construction of the Statue of Liberty. As these models gained popularity and were sold through Macy's and other department stores, as well as in newspaper advertisements, it eventually took Joseph Pulitzer's crowdfunding drive during the financial panic of the 1880s to gather sufficient funds and complete the pedestal for Lady Liberty. A closer examination of this model reveals that it was adapted from the original 19th-century "American Committee Model" with subtle tweaks to conceal its origins. The pedestal in this replica features a pyramid base that lacks detail compared to the original; in contrast, the name of the American Committee and their trademark are boldly displayed on the front in elegant script. The details of the pedestal and the goddess in the authentic model were more refined and skillfully crafted, including clearly visible individual toes, a distinct inscription on the tablet reading "July 4 1776," finely chiseled facial features, sharply defined rays of the crown, and individual fingers. However, it's worth noting that making a mold from an existing sculpture or statue often results in the loss of fine details. A distinctive characteristic of this replica is the additional layer of masonry applied to the top of the pedestal, just beneath the base of the goddess. In the original model, the pedestal and Liberty could be separated with ease; they were designed as two distinct parts, allowing for separate nickel-plating of the pedestal while the goddess was electroplated in pure copper to achieve a convincing bronze effect. A high-quality image of an original American Committee model is accessible here: https://goo.gl/664DBc