Georges Despret Pate de Verre Mask c 1905

Description

Heading : Georges Despret Pate de Verre Mask c 1905
Date : c 1905
Origin : Belgium
Marks : None
Description : A flat-backed mask of a female face in relief. framed by her own tumbling hair. a necklace of flowers and with two larger blooms placed in her hair; possibly depicting Cléo de Mérode – a noted ‘danseuse célèbre’ of the Belle Époque – who is known to have sat for Despret during the production of other artefacts (notably another more detailed mask of her which is exhibited at the Musée Fin de Siecle. Bruxelles) 
Size : 139mm high x 117mm wide x 36mm deep
Condition : Good – no chips. cracks or flakes
Restoration : None
Weight : 613 grams

Additional Information : Cléo de Mérode’s trademark hairstyle. which covered her ears. was blamed for a perceived decline in the effectiveness of Swedish telephone exchange operators. who are said to have had their hearing impaired by imitating her appearance !