An Unusual Pair of c.1780s Plaster Wall Sconce Life Masks of Servants from Chateau Serris, France

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An Unusual Pair of c.1780s Plaster Wall Sconce Life Masks of Servants from Chateau Serris, FranceOrigin: French Period: Louis XVI Provenance: Chateau Serris Near Paris, France Date: c. 1780 90 Mask One: 10. 5 H x 9 W x 4. 5 D Mask Two: 10 H x 8. 25 W x 6. 25 D The life size and naturally proportioned thick plaster painted moulded effigy life masks modelled as sconces of former servants of Chateau Serris, near Paris, the subjects almost certainly of French African ethnicity, survive from Louis XVI period France. In entirely original condition with

mounted on linen with aluminium dowels

direct carving

There are some mouldings absent to the tables upper frieze but they aren’t visible unless one inspects on hands and knees

The shell is decoratively still beautiful though some of the teeth have chips and losses

We can only find one other example like this box

The articulation is all in good order and the interior is clean

This practice continued until China became a republic in the twentieth century when

free flowing wavy short to medium length graying brown hair

A bonafide untouched sculptural gem

decorated with a range of patterns

This substance is colourless or white

The vapours weep their burthen to the ground