Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1920s.
The sitter, Brayovitch's mistress, exquisitely carved from a large block of fine marble, is depicted with her head gracefully turned and her downcast eyes are half closed, as if in some delicious, drowsy reverie.
It is signed on the reverse of the plinth 'J. Brayovitch' accompanied by a carved circular symbol, the significance of which is not known.
Born in Montenegro, Janko Brayovitch studied at the High Academy of Sculpture in Vienna. After the First World War he emigrated to Britain, where he settled in Hampstead, London.
Many of his works were portrait busts in marble, bronze or a mixture of both.
In 1928 he was invited to Canada to sculpt the famous soldier General Burnham and his wiife. These busts were unfortunately destroyed by a fire at the General's house in 1955.
Brayovitch was also commissioned to scupt a bust of Gerald Gratan McGeer, Mayor of Vancouver and reformer of the once corrupt police force. This remains at 453 West 12th Ave. Vancouver.
A bust by Brayovitch of 1933, 'Red Indian', is in the Tate Gallery, London and featured in the exhibition 'Head to Head' in 2004.
Apart from its beauty and the consummate skill of its creation what makes this bust utterly unique is that it is of Brayovitch's lover and therefore a very intimate piece.
It was kept by her long after his death in 1947 until the 1970's, when it was sold to a collector who owned it for the last 35 years or so.
SIZE: 24.5 inches tall.
PROVENANCE:
Janko Brayovitch.
The sitter.
Hillersdon House nr. Cullompton, Devon.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1920s.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art Profile Page
Sold....marble Portrait Bust of the Sculptor's Lover C.1925, by Janko Brayovitch.
