Artmink

Art Deco Period Cast Plaster 'Three Graces' Bas-Relief Plaque

By: Unknown

Style: Art Deco with Neoclassical revival imagery

Origin: Italy (likely, Continental Europe)

Materials: Cast plaster (chalkware) with gesso ground and polychrome paint/glaze; possibly mounted to or backed by a board

Age: circa 1930–1950

Condition: Fair (heavy paint loss, edge chipping, and general surface abrasion; unframed)

Value: $50–$150 (auction, as-is condition)

Maker's Marks / Writing: No visible signature, stamp, or foundry/atelier mark on the front or edges shown.

Date: 2025-08-23 15:37:15.382475

Description:

Rectangular low-relief wall plaque depicting the mythological Three Graces: three nude female figures linked at the shoulders, with the central figure shown from the back and the flanking figures in profile. Executed as a shallow bas‑relief and polychromed in warm ochre and sienna tones over a light ground. The substrate appears to be cast plaster/chalkware with a gesso-like surface, evidenced by edge chips that reveal a pale underlying material. No frame; worn edges and abrasions consistent with age and handling.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

Decorative bas‑relief plaque drawing on the classical Three Graces motif, rendered with the elongated, stylized anatomy and warm earthy palette popular in the Art Deco era. The casting and paint appear consistent with mid‑20th‑century chalkware production commonly found in Italy and other parts of continental Europe. Surface wear, flaking, and edge losses are evident and affect value but also suggest age rather than a very recent reproduction. A word about fakes.. Decorative relief plaques are frequently reproduced; modern castings can be artificially distressed. Without inspection of the reverse and substrate, I remain conservative about period attribution.

Individual Images:

whole item

Provenance:

None provided.

Condition:

Fair (heavy paint loss, edge chipping, and general surface abrasion; unframed)

Identification Score: 88%

The subject and form clearly match common Three Graces bas‑relief plaques of the Art Deco period. Modeling style, palette, and visible chalky substrate strongly indicate a cast plaster decorative plaque from mid‑20th‑century Europe.

Authenticity Score: 45%

Probable mid‑20th‑century production, but reproductions are common and only one view is provided. Realistic wear is present (flaking, edge chips, abrasions), yet without seeing the back, mounting, or tool/casting seams, I cannot conclusively rule out a later re-cast with simulated aging. A word about fakes.. This category (chalkware/plaster decorative plaques with classical subjects) is rife with late 20th–21st century reproductions, sometimes deliberately patinated.

Image Memory Note

Single vertical image of a rectangular bas-relief plaque on a tiled floor. Subject: three nude female figures (the Three Graces). Central figure is seen from the back, head turned left; left and right figures in profile facing outward, each with stylized dark hair. The left figure’s left arm is extended forward; the right figure’s right arm is extended, with hands delicately modeled. The central figure’s right hand rests on the left figure’s shoulder; her left hand on the right figure’s shoulder. Background is a mottled ochre/sienna field. Relief depth shallow, with dark brown/black outlining accentuating contours. Edge and surface condition: extensive abrasions and losses at the top edge, revealing a pale, chalky substrate beneath the paint; additional chips on lower corners and margins; scattered white scuffs and scratches across the field. No frame or hanging hardware visible. No inscriptions, signatures, stamps, or labels visible on the front or edges shown. Surroundings include a coil of rope at left and miscellaneous wooden items; a small price sticker is on the floor, not on the object.

Keywords

Art Deco, Three Graces, bas-relief, plaque, cast plaster, chalkware, Italy, neoclassical, wall art, 1930s, 1940s

Report ID:  : xu237t

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