Plaque Looks Art Nouveau
WHAT IS IT?
This is a sculptured bas-relief plaque of a young woman’s head and neck. It measures 18 1/2 inches high and 16 inches wide. It was made of fired clay, then painted.
WHAT’S ITS
HISTORY?
From the information imprinted on the back, the plaque was made in Vienna, says Norm Wheatcroft, owner of Crofton Antiques in Costa Mesa.
“We can also tell that it was made after 1891, since in that year a law was passed that anything sold in the U.S. had to have the country of origin stamped on it,” he says. “This piece was probably made in the early 1920s.
“Unfortunately, the artist’s name has been blurred, so it is impossible to read who he was. There were many artists doing this kind of work at the turn of the century.”
The style appears to be art nouveau, which was very popular at the time and often featured sensuous women with flowing hair and beautiful flowers.
WHAT’S THE LEGEND?
This plaque was given to Muriel Browne of Laguna Hills 50 years ago by her parents.
“We were from the East Coast, and they purchased it at an antique shop in New York state. I have many lovely pieces from them,” Browne says.
WHY IS IT POPULAR TODAY?
There has been a revived interest in art nouveau pieces in recent years. They go well with interiors that are romantic and traditional.
WHAT’S IT WORTH TODAY?
“This is a very nice, decorative plaque,” says Wheatcroft. “I’ve never seen one quite like it. Because they are so rare, I’d estimate that it would be worth about $1,000.”
WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
It would be difficult to find one exactly like it, but an antique store, estate sale or auction may have a similar one for sale.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
There are several art nouveau Web sites. Ask Jeeves at https://www.aj.com about them. “Art Nouveau” by Maria Constantino ($20, Knickerbocker Press, 1999) is a book dedicated to the subject.
* To have an item considered for this column, send information, a photograph of it and a phone number to: What’s It Worth?, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
