HOFFMAN, Malvina (1887-1966) sculptor, medalist, author.
Maiden name: Malvina Cornell Hoffman.
Married name: Mrs Samuel Bonaries Grimson.
Born New York City, 15 June 1887.
Her most famous commission from Field Museum of
Natural History to travel five continents to document in
104 bronze statues, called The Living Races of Man
(now in Chicago museum). Benezit mentions her medallic
work as commemorative medals.
Author three books on sculpture, one Sculpture Inside and
Out, devotes chapter (12) to medals and reliefs.
The most famous American female sculptor, she is referred
to as “Malvena”-- no other name required -- as her fame is
so widespread.
Signed models M.H. initials.
Fellow: National Sculpture Society.
Died New York City, 10 July 1966.
E M B L E M S
Maiden name: Malvina Cornell Hoffman.
Married name: Mrs Samuel Bonaries Grimson.
Born New York City, 15 June 1887.
Her most famous commission from Field Museum of
Natural History to travel five continents to document in
104 bronze statues, called The Living Races of Man
(now in Chicago museum). Benezit mentions her medallic
work as commemorative medals.
Author three books on sculpture, one Sculpture Inside and
Out, devotes chapter (12) to medals and reliefs.
The most famous American female sculptor, she is referred
to as “Malvena”-- no other name required -- as her fame is
so widespread.
Signed models M.H. initials.
Fellow: National Sculpture Society.
Died New York City, 10 July 1966.
E M B L E M S
1940 Willkie W Emblem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1940-027
1941 Bundles for Britain Emblem . . . . . . . .MAco 1941-061
R E L I E F S
n.d. Pestilence Plaster Plaque. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
n.d. Portrait of a Boy Plaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 7:459
n.d. War Plaster Plaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M E D A L S E R I E S
Society of Medalists:
R E L I E F S
n.d. Pestilence Plaster Plaque. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
n.d. Portrait of a Boy Plaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 7:459
n.d. War Plaster Plaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M E D A L S E R I E S
Society of Medalists:
1955 Society of Medalists 51st Issue. . . . . . MAco 1930-001-051
Auctions:. . . . CAL 30:51, CAL 31:167-168, CAL 33:3051,
CAL 35:2051; J&J 9:394, J&J 11:1051; PCA 42:1100,
PCA 46:1253, PCA 50:1492, PCA 58:1864, PCA 60:1512,
PCA 65:1753, PCA 80:1619
Collection: American Numismatic Society [>1] . 1955.71.1
Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art . . . . . . . .55.149.1
Collection: Newark Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.101
Collection: Princeton Library Vermeule (NC2002-72) . 206
Exhibited: AF7 {1957} F.I.D.E.M. Paris (1957). . . . . . .200
Exhibited: Utah Museum of Fine Arts (1991) . . . . . 206
Hall of Fame Series:
Auctions:. . . . CAL 30:51, CAL 31:167-168, CAL 33:3051,
CAL 35:2051; J&J 9:394, J&J 11:1051; PCA 42:1100,
PCA 46:1253, PCA 50:1492, PCA 58:1864, PCA 60:1512,
PCA 65:1753, PCA 80:1619
Collection: American Numismatic Society [>1] . 1955.71.1
Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art . . . . . . . .55.149.1
Collection: Newark Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.101
Collection: Princeton Library Vermeule (NC2002-72) . 206
Exhibited: AF7 {1957} F.I.D.E.M. Paris (1957). . . . . . .200
Exhibited: Utah Museum of Fine Arts (1991) . . . . . 206
Hall of Fame Series:
1963 Thoreau (Henry David) Medal. . . . . . . . . MAco 1963-001-006
Auctions:. . . . . . PCA 52:458[set/94], PCA 65:543[set/94]
Exhibited: AE8 {1966} NSS 33rd Exhibition cat, illus 54
M E D A L S
n.d. Portrait of a Boy Plaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 7:459
Auctions:. . . . . . PCA 52:458[set/94], PCA 65:543[set/94]
Exhibited: AE8 {1966} NSS 33rd Exhibition cat, illus 54
M E D A L S
n.d. Portrait of a Boy Plaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 7:459
1925 Fairfax (Eleanor Van Rensselaer) Medal . . . MAco 1925-024
1933 Wald (Lillian D.) Medal. . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1933-016
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2130
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2130
1944 Nutting (Mary Adelaide) Medallion. . . . . . MAco 1944-016
1955 Kimber Award Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1955-029
1955 Kimber Genetics Award Medallion. . . . . . . . MAco 1955-007
1959 Trinity School Lawrence T. Cole Medal. . . . MAco 1959-068
Auctions:. . . . . J&J 11:1583, J&J 15:195, J&J 18:867, J&J 21:100
1963 Frick (Henry Clay) Plaquette . . . . . . . . MAco 1963-096
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 15:194
Exhibited: F.I.D.E.M. 12th Congress, Paris (1967). . 293
1959 Trinity School Lawrence T. Cole Medal. . . . MAco 1959-068
Auctions:. . . . . J&J 11:1583, J&J 15:195, J&J 18:867, J&J 21:100
1963 Frick (Henry Clay) Plaquette . . . . . . . . MAco 1963-096
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 15:194
Exhibited: F.I.D.E.M. 12th Congress, Paris (1967). . 293
1964 Joslin (Elliot Proctor) Medal. . . . . . . . MAco 1964-035
Portrait of Malvina Hoffman by Edward McCartan:
1917 Hoffman (Malvina) Plaquette . . . MAco 1917-015
A R C H I V E S
AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 5 items on partial microfilm
reels: D10, 2814.
B I O G R A P H I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
D5 {1915} Earle, p 152-153.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 172, 478.
H68a{1930} Alexandre (Arsene) Malvina Hoffman. Paris: J.E. Pouterman (1930) 46
pages, 58 plates. H68b {1936} Hoffman (Malvina) Heads and Tails. New York:
Charles Scribnr’s Sons, 1936, 416 pages, illus.
D12 {1937} College Art Association, p 254-258, 264, 267.
H68c {1937} Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. A Comprehensive Exhibition of Sculpture
of Malvina Hoffman. Richmond VA: The Museum (1937) 32 pages.
BA {1937} Who's Who In American Art:
1937 [1ed:203-204], 1939 [2ed:251],
1941 [3ed:306], 1947 [4ed:226],
1953 [5ed:189], 1956 [6ed:211],
1959 [7ed:258], 1962 [8ed:280],
1966 [9ed:210].
A3 {1939} Hoffman (Malvina) Sculpture Inside and Out. New York: W.W. Norton &
Co. 330 pages, illus. reliefs, medals [Chapter 12] pp 205-217.
BE {1943} Webster's Biographical Dictionary, p 718.
BI {1946} Institute, p 1049.
101 {1960} Larkin, p 393, 442.
P20 {1962} Cresson (Margaret French) Malvina Hoffman: A Great Lady. National
Sculpture Review 19:2 (Summer 1962) p 16-17, 24.
C8 {1965} Gardner, p 158-161.
H68d {1965} Hoffman (Malvina) Yesterday is Tomorrow: A Personal History. New
York: Crown (1965) 378 pp, illus.
P30 {1966} New York Times (11 July) 1:8 (obituary), (14 July) 36:1 (funeral).
A12 {1968} Craven, p 560-563, (biblio) 738.
A13 {1968} Proske, p 208-213, (biblio of 21 items) 529.
B4 {1968} Who Was Who, p 450.
A17 {1974} Broder
D29 {1976} Samuels, p 230.
AEW {1976} Whitney Museum of Art (bio) p 280.
Px {1979} Taylor (Joshua C.) Malvina Hoffman. American Art and Antiques 2: (July- Aug 1979) p 96-103.
H68e {1980} Far Gallery. Malvina Hoffman. New York: The Gallery (1980).
A26 {1982} Baigell, p 168.
BW2 {1982} Rubinstein, p 205, illus 5-21.
A27 {1983} Evert, p 410-411.
H68f{1984} Hill (May Brawley) The Woman Sculptor: Malvina Hoffman and Her
Contemporaries; An Exhibition of Small Bronzes to Celebrate the Centennial of
the Brearley School. New York: Berry-Hill Galleries Inc (1984) 60 pp, illus.
[ten of her contemporaries included]
BF1 {1985} Falk, p 286. 101 {1987} National Museum of Women in The Arts.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 412.
101 {1987} Tufts.
AE1 {1988} Falk, 2:254-255, 3:239-240.
A30 {1989} Conner & Rosenkranz, p 53-62, (biblio) 196.
AE2 {1990} Art Institute of Chicago, p 445.
BW5{1990} Dunford, p 136.
AE5 {1990} National Academy of Design, p 268.
BW4{1990} Chiarmonte, 106, p 223, 334 279, 369 286, 2437-2444 655-656.
BW6{1990} Rubinstein, p 176-183.
A32 {1993} Reynolds, passim.
BW8 {1994} Bailey, p 78-79.
A44 {1996} Salmon, American Masters, p 35.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 10:944-946, by Joan Marter.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 2:1588.
D3a {2006} Benezit.Dictionary of Artists, p 7:184.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
AE {1915} Pan-Pacific Expo Art Exhibit Catalog.
AE8 {1923} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 107.
E6 {1927} Trees (Clyde Curlee) Medallic Art in Commerce, Civics, Philanthropy,
Letters and Science. New York: Medallic Art Company (1927) 39 pages.
AE6 {1929} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 152.
P2 {1955} Society of Medalists 51st Issue by Malvina Hoffman The Numismatist 68:7
(July 1955) p 724-725, illus.
AF7 {1957} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 7th Congress Paris (1957) 200, p 21.
AF12{1967} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 12th Congress. Paris (1967) 293, p 107.
MA1{1988} Stahl (Alan M., editor) The Medal in America. ¦ Joseph Veach Noble "The
Society of Medalists" & Circle of Friends of Medallion, pp 223-247.
M68 {2012} Alexander (David Thompson) American Art Medals, 1909-1995; The
Circle of Friends of Medallion and the Society of Medalists, p 146-147.
Portrait of Malvina Hoffman by Edward McCartan:
1917 Hoffman (Malvina) Plaquette . . . MAco 1917-015
A R C H I V E S
AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 5 items on partial microfilm
reels: D10, 2814.
B I O G R A P H I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
D5 {1915} Earle, p 152-153.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 172, 478.
H68a{1930} Alexandre (Arsene) Malvina Hoffman. Paris: J.E. Pouterman (1930) 46
pages, 58 plates. H68b {1936} Hoffman (Malvina) Heads and Tails. New York:
Charles Scribnr’s Sons, 1936, 416 pages, illus.
D12 {1937} College Art Association, p 254-258, 264, 267.
H68c {1937} Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. A Comprehensive Exhibition of Sculpture
of Malvina Hoffman. Richmond VA: The Museum (1937) 32 pages.
BA {1937} Who's Who In American Art:
1937 [1ed:203-204], 1939 [2ed:251],
1941 [3ed:306], 1947 [4ed:226],
1953 [5ed:189], 1956 [6ed:211],
1959 [7ed:258], 1962 [8ed:280],
1966 [9ed:210].
A3 {1939} Hoffman (Malvina) Sculpture Inside and Out. New York: W.W. Norton &
Co. 330 pages, illus. reliefs, medals [Chapter 12] pp 205-217.
BE {1943} Webster's Biographical Dictionary, p 718.
BI {1946} Institute, p 1049.
101 {1960} Larkin, p 393, 442.
P20 {1962} Cresson (Margaret French) Malvina Hoffman: A Great Lady. National
Sculpture Review 19:2 (Summer 1962) p 16-17, 24.
C8 {1965} Gardner, p 158-161.
H68d {1965} Hoffman (Malvina) Yesterday is Tomorrow: A Personal History. New
York: Crown (1965) 378 pp, illus.
P30 {1966} New York Times (11 July) 1:8 (obituary), (14 July) 36:1 (funeral).
A12 {1968} Craven, p 560-563, (biblio) 738.
A13 {1968} Proske, p 208-213, (biblio of 21 items) 529.
B4 {1968} Who Was Who, p 450.
A17 {1974} Broder
D29 {1976} Samuels, p 230.
AEW {1976} Whitney Museum of Art (bio) p 280.
Px {1979} Taylor (Joshua C.) Malvina Hoffman. American Art and Antiques 2: (July- Aug 1979) p 96-103.
H68e {1980} Far Gallery. Malvina Hoffman. New York: The Gallery (1980).
A26 {1982} Baigell, p 168.
BW2 {1982} Rubinstein, p 205, illus 5-21.
A27 {1983} Evert, p 410-411.
H68f{1984} Hill (May Brawley) The Woman Sculptor: Malvina Hoffman and Her
Contemporaries; An Exhibition of Small Bronzes to Celebrate the Centennial of
the Brearley School. New York: Berry-Hill Galleries Inc (1984) 60 pp, illus.
[ten of her contemporaries included]
BF1 {1985} Falk, p 286. 101 {1987} National Museum of Women in The Arts.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 412.
101 {1987} Tufts.
AE1 {1988} Falk, 2:254-255, 3:239-240.
A30 {1989} Conner & Rosenkranz, p 53-62, (biblio) 196.
AE2 {1990} Art Institute of Chicago, p 445.
BW5{1990} Dunford, p 136.
AE5 {1990} National Academy of Design, p 268.
BW4{1990} Chiarmonte, 106, p 223, 334 279, 369 286, 2437-2444 655-656.
BW6{1990} Rubinstein, p 176-183.
A32 {1993} Reynolds, passim.
BW8 {1994} Bailey, p 78-79.
A44 {1996} Salmon, American Masters, p 35.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 10:944-946, by Joan Marter.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 2:1588.
D3a {2006} Benezit.Dictionary of Artists, p 7:184.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
AE {1915} Pan-Pacific Expo Art Exhibit Catalog.
AE8 {1923} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 107.
E6 {1927} Trees (Clyde Curlee) Medallic Art in Commerce, Civics, Philanthropy,
Letters and Science. New York: Medallic Art Company (1927) 39 pages.
AE6 {1929} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 152.
P2 {1955} Society of Medalists 51st Issue by Malvina Hoffman The Numismatist 68:7
(July 1955) p 724-725, illus.
AF7 {1957} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 7th Congress Paris (1957) 200, p 21.
AF12{1967} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 12th Congress. Paris (1967) 293, p 107.
MA1{1988} Stahl (Alan M., editor) The Medal in America. ¦ Joseph Veach Noble "The
Society of Medalists" & Circle of Friends of Medallion, pp 223-247.
M68 {2012} Alexander (David Thompson) American Art Medals, 1909-1995; The
Circle of Friends of Medallion and the Society of Medalists, p 146-147.