Help me identify this bust

December 3, 2016 9:09 PM

We found a miniature bust. Who is this person?

Cat included for scale.

At first we thought it might be a famous Texan, but the hair's not right for Davy Crockett and it doesn't seem to match up with Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, etc. The only other busts in this person's possession are famous composers or famous theologians, but we're hard-pressed to think of any of them who would fit the bill.

posted by Ndwright to Society & Culture (14 answers total)

Joseph Smith the Latter Day Saint
posted by hortense at 9:21 PM on December 3, 2016

It looks like he's wearing a judicial robe, so probably a Supreme Court justice. Maybe John Marshall? He's got the muttonchops for it.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:30 PM on December 3, 2016

I think Justice Marshall is better looking than the man in that bust but agree it's an early Supreme Court Justice. Here's a similar robe worn by John Rutledge, a justice in the late 1700s.
posted by mulcahy at 9:33 PM on December 3, 2016

My first thought was Oliver Cromwell because of the nose, but the hair isn't quite right...
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:37 PM on December 3, 2016

the hair is wrong and the mustache is missing but somehow I still want to say Oliver Wendell Holmes?
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:44 PM on December 3, 2016

Roger Brooke Taney, maybe? His hair is parted on the wrong side though. Here's a shot of his Supreme Court bust.
posted by kittyb at 9:49 PM on December 3, 2016

I'm sure it's not supposed to be either of them, but depending on the angle it looks like either Alan Rickman or Benedict Cumberbatch to me.
posted by jordemort at 10:03 PM on December 3, 2016 [4 favorites]

That's almost certainly supposed to be a judicial robe. Anyone else won't make sense.
posted by padraigin at 10:10 PM on December 3, 2016

Best answer: I think maybe theologian: the robe looks judicial but could also be a divine. And the facial hair and necktie suggest 19th century.

Sorry to be of so little help!
posted by jrochest at 10:10 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My guess is Schleiermacher. Another view. "Often called the 'Father of Modern Liberal Theology,'" someone who cares about theologians would probably know him as a major figure in hermeneutics.
posted by Wobbuffet at 10:45 PM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I am of absolutely no help to you in this, but if this thing were in my possession, and given blessing by the (very cute!) cat like that, I would accept this message of conciliation from 2016 and set up a tiny Alan Rickman shrine. I'm sure it wasn't him before, but it would be from this moment on. And if a guest insists, "But that's Schleiemacher!" (or whomever) then you say, "Oh, that's Alan Rickman AS Schleiemacher." And I am now off to shop for Schleiemacher busts.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 2:21 AM on December 4, 2016 [8 favorites]

Does the owner know who it is? Are there any marks, stickers or stamps on it?
posted by i feel possessed at 7:55 AM on December 4, 2016

Best answer: YES YES YES DING DING DING SCHLEIRMACHER. Duh.

(Sorry - ndwright was posting for me, this was found at my grandfather's house. He literally wrote a book about Schleirmacher. Y'all are the best!)

Next question - where the hell does one purchase a bust of Schleirmacher?
posted by theweasel at 8:02 AM on December 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Or maybe we should just buy a bust of Alan Rickman and dress it in judicial robes...
posted by theweasel at 8:05 AM on December 4, 2016 [1 favorite]