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)
Duke of Windsor, Mussolini and Adolf Hitler
Circa 1935
painted papier-mache and wood masks
made for Disney Studios
each labeled on the inside, the first reads Duke of Windsor A Custom Made Mask by George Roether Cleveland, O - Hollywood, Cal., Mussolini inscribed Mussolini no. 50-12-26-72 Made by Geo. Roether 1244 E. 125 Cleveland O. not to be duplicated, and the last inscribed Hitler 52-12-26-72 Made by Geo. Roether 1244 E. 125 Cleveland O. not to be duplicated.
Height of first 8 1/4 inches.
Circa 1935
painted papier-mache and wood masks
made for Disney Studios
each labeled on the inside, the first reads Duke of Windsor A Custom Made Mask by George Roether Cleveland, O - Hollywood, Cal., Mussolini inscribed Mussolini no. 50-12-26-72 Made by Geo. Roether 1244 E. 125 Cleveland O. not to be duplicated, and the last inscribed Hitler 52-12-26-72 Made by Geo. Roether 1244 E. 125 Cleveland O. not to be duplicated.
Height of first 8 1/4 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