A cast plaster face mask showing a serene, closed-eyed face. The features have been refined by hand after casting, giving the brows, eyelids and lips a crisp, sculptural quality.
The front has a warm ochre patina that evokes terracotta or old wood. The reverse is left in raw white plaster, with numbers and two triangular marks scratched into it while the plaster was still wet. An iron wire loop is set into the back for wall hanging.
The mask belongs to the long European tradition of plaster face casts, kept as memorials, studies and objects of quiet contemplation. It works on a wall, a shelf or lying on a table.
Details
Material: cast plaster, hand-applied patina
Dimensions: H 22 cm × W 14 cm
Period: mid-20th century
Origin: Europe
Hanging: original iron wire loop on reverse
Condition: minor surface wear and small rust spots consistent with age; small chip at the chin
