George L. Roether (American, 1913-1998)
Sale 993 - American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts
Lots 1-335
Mar 10, 2022
5:00AM ET
Lots 336-681
Mar 11, 2022
5:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati
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Estimate
$2,000 -
3,000
Lot Description
George L. Roether (American, 1913-1998)
Bette Davis, Joan Blondell and Marlene Dietrich
Circa 1935
painted papier-mache, carved wood and metal masks
made for Disney Studios
the first inscribed Bette Davis a custom made mask by George Roether Cleveland, Ohio Hollywood Calif., the next inscribed Joan Blondell a custom made mask by George Roether Cleveland, Ohio Hollywood Calif., the last inscribed Marlene Dietrich a custom made mask by George Roether Cleveland, Ohio Hollywood Calif.
Height of first 8 1/2 inches.
Circa 1935
painted papier-mache, carved wood and metal masks
made for Disney Studios
the first inscribed Bette Davis a custom made mask by George Roether Cleveland, Ohio Hollywood Calif., the next inscribed Joan Blondell a custom made mask by George Roether Cleveland, Ohio Hollywood Calif., the last inscribed Marlene Dietrich a custom made mask by George Roether Cleveland, Ohio Hollywood Calif.
Height of first 8 1/2 inches.
George Roether was an animator for Disney and constructed this series of masks depicting movie stars and political figures between 1935 and 1941 in an attempt to have them mass produced. However, Disney declined the project. They subsequently went into storage until 1999 when a relative consigned them and they were offered at auction. They then descended to Ed Berlin of West Orange, NJ, and then to Betsy Dean of Colorado Springs, CO.
Condition Report
Auction Specialist