This is one of two Leonardene Co Art Deco plaster wall masks dating to the 1930s in my store.
This wall plaque is modelled as a glamourous lady with lots of kiss curls on her forehead. She is holding a fan. She has marked in impressed script on the Leonardi, No.287,
This one has all its original gold paint with tiny areas of retouching where there has been scuffing to the edges of the mask here and these. These are not obvious on display. There are no blemishes or touching up of the paintwork on her face. This remains smooth and as shiny as the day that is was made.
The wall make designed by Gl Leonardi. This is inscribed on the back, as photographed. Height is about 14 inches. The width at the widest is 7 inches. The depth is 3 inches.
It weighs 1.6 kg unpacked.
These plaster masks were taken from moulds and then hand painted - the decorative finish and colours on each mask is different.
This one was a popular model and they were not only painted in this gold colour, but also were made with a more realistic and naturalistic finish.
Each creation was known as Leonardene Art Models exclusive figures. They were designed by British artists and made in London from British materials. Every piece was made and finished by hand. The company was the holder of Diplomas won in world competitions in the early 1930s in Brussels, Florence, London, Padora and Paris.‘
These masks are now hard to find as there is a certain fragility to them. There is some scuffing to the surface on the back of my mask. This is commensurate with it being put on a wall and moved about over the last 100 years.