100.00 USD
It's the 18th century, the age of Casanova. Candles are lit and gondolas glide along the canals of Venice, ferrying passengers in dominos and masks, like souls crossing the river Styx…
I love Venetian carnival masks, and as some of them look bird-like I thought it would be fun to dress some small birds in them.
The plague doctor mask is based on costumes worn by doctors who treated victims of the bubonic plague. The long beak was filled with aromatic substances such as herbs, dried flowers and camphor to ward off the evil smells that were thought to carry sickness. A doctor dressed in this way must have been a rather frightening apparition to see at one's bedside, but I like to think the doctor bird is a cuter character.
Material: Brass with antique brown patina
Size: 10.5 cm / 4 inches long
Open edition, signed with initials on base
Please note that the colour on this piece can vary quite a bit between darker and lighter shades.
