Skip to main content

Simons, Amory Coffin (1869-1959)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1869 - 1959

Biography

Amory Coffin Simons was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 5, 1869. He first studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and later in Paris under Jean Dampt, Denys Puech, and Auguste Rodin. Throughout his career, Simons specialized in animal sculptures, mainly those depicting horses, although he also portrayed other animals such as dogs. Simons worked in New York, where he was employed by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) from 1924 to 1926 to sculpt famous horses based on skeleton samples. His pieces were featured in the “Horse Under Domestication” exhibition from 1922 to 1952 on Floor 4, Section 2a. In 1947, the miniature dog models Simons created were shown in the temporary “Exhibit of Miniature Dog Models” in the New York State Roosevelt Memorial Hall. By 1940, he had moved to Santa Barbara, where he taught at the School of Arts. Simons died there on July 24, 1959.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Arabian Stallion "Nimr" / On base "Amory C. Simons"

 Item
Identifier: Art Survey No. 174
Scope and Contents

Famous race horse in early 20th century, owned by H. Huntington, who donated Nimr's skeleton to A.M.N.H. Inscription: On base "Arabian Stallion 'Nimr' from skeleton 1/4 scale".

Dates: 1922

Lee Axworthy / On base "Amory Simons"

 Item
Identifier: Art Survey No. 175
Scope and Contents

Famous race horse in early 20th century, owned by the Diclarmans, who donated his skeleton to A.M.N.H. Trotting horse. Inscription: On base "Lee Axworthy" 1-58" 4 made from skeleton, made for American Museum of Natural History/ New York/ Scale 1/4.

Dates: 1925