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Royal Manchester College Of Music (RMCM)
1849

A plaster cast of Frederic Chopin's death mask, used by the artist to produce his marble sculpture ‘Chopin sur son lit de mort’ and a portrait medallion. The inscription reads "Chopin death mask, taken the day of his death by Clésinger for Miss J.W. Stirling of Edinburgh. Lent by The Royal Manchester College of Music."
A small plate on outside of case inscribed: "This case was given by Miss Susanna Brookshaw".
Chopin visited and performed in Manchester just a year before he died.
Miss Jane Stirling (1804-1859) was Chopin's Scottish pupil, friend and hostess. According to Brookshaw, it was bequeathed by Stirling to Mr A.J. Scott, Principal of Owen's College, Manchester; however there is no mention of it in Stirling’s will nor the accompanying inventory. in 1910 it was presented to the RMCM by Scott’s daughter Miss Susan Fisher Scott; 1936-78 on loan, together with cast of Chopin's hand, to the Henry Watson Music Library.