Hiram Powers (1805–1873) is considered one the America’s great neoclassical sculptors. His works were popular in his time and remain so today. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) has one of the most comprehensive collections of Powers’ work featuring major sculptures in marble, as well as preparatory works from his studio. The plaster piece mold (figures 1 and 2), Mold for Positive Cast of a Child’s Hand (ca. 1851) discussed in this paper, is a rare surviving mold for a preparatory work. There are no surviving casts known. As such, it gives insight into Powers’ study for other finished works. The example being described in this paper is fragile and has lost two of its eight parts, making it difficult to store or move safely.

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