This bust shows a man with beard and moustache wearing a bow tie and a jacket with two buttons. A chest pocket holds tools that appear to be a sculptor's knife and scraping tool, although these are not clearly defined. This plaster bust may be a model for the marble self-portrait of the sculptor Adams. A similar variant in marble is also in the Museum's collections (inv. no. A.114-1980).

George Gammon Adams (b. 1821-1898) was a portrait sculptor and medallist. He designed and exhibited prize medals for the Great Exhibition. In 1852 he was chosen to model the death mask of Wellington. One of his public monuments is the 'Napier' statue in Trafalgar square.

The bust was among the items given to the Museum by I. D. Adams, the daughter of George Gammon Adams, in 1980. In total, 196 items were included in the Adams gift, which consisted of many models for medals as well as the busts and figurative sculpture. In most instances it is not possible to date conclusively the many models included in this gift.