Italy, late 19th to early 20th century

A sculptural fountainhead from the facade of a Palazzo in Campo Santa Margherita, Venice. Evidently after Bartolomeo Bassi at Fontana del Mascherone, on the Aventine Hill - Rome. The mask itself surmounted by a giant carved sea scroll, the Renaissance face with strikingly illustrious facial hair, flanked by large scallops and framed by two over-sized facing dolphin grotesques terminating in acanthus leave garlands. Carved from Istrian stone with evidence of an outside weathered patina - this piece has immense dramatic presence. 

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'The grotesque features are common of ‘mascarons’ – architectural ornaments depicting a face, whose function was originally to scare evil spirits and prevent them from entering a building. The term mascaron came into use during the 17th century. It comes from the Italian ‘mascharone,’ which in turn derives from the Arab word ‘mascara’ meaning buffoonery.

Mascarons were particularly popular in 15th century Italy and when Italian Renaissance style became fashionable in 16th century France, mascarons began to multiply, particularly in Paris. Throughout the 17th century a distinction was made between masks and mascarons. Writing in 1691 architect Augustin-Charles d’Aviler described a mask as a human face that was traditionally sculpted in the keystone over a door or window opening. The images might represent the gods, the seasons, the continents or more esoteric ideas such as the ages or human temperaments. In contrast, a mascaron was a grotesque image, a representation of something or someone unreal, and was used on doors, grottoes and fountains.'

Dawn Hoskins Assistant Curator at the V&A

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Mounted on a bespoke pedestal for internal sculptural use in an entrance hall, foyer, vestibule, garden room or as impressive drawing room statement. Alternatively the sculpture would work exceptionally fixed to a wall and/or used as a focal point to a garden.

Dimensions:  

Mask and pedestal - H 188cm x W73.5cm x D 43.5cm

Mask - H 90.5 x W 84cm x D 21.5cm

Pedestal - H 89cm x W 73.5cm x D 43.5cm