Bronze Mask of Tragedy from the London Opera House, 1911

This magnificent cast bronze Mask of Tragedy once graced the exterior of the London Opera House (later known as the Stoll Theatre) and was saved from demolition in the 1950s. It was made in 1911 and was originally paired with a Mask of Comedy. The whereabouts of the latter is unknown.

This is the first time that the mask has been offered for sale on the open market and is a rare opportunity indeed to own such an impressive architectural antique from a landmark building.

The mask is approximately 40 cm high by 23.5 cm wide and weighs 6.5 kg. Made in four sections, which are very securely rivetted together on the reverse.

Price on application. Please email (info@twentiethcenturyposters.com) or call (07718 064 205) for further information.  Higher resolution images are available to view on request.

We are also offering an original theatre box door number plate from the London Opera House. More information here.

The London Opera House

The London Opera House was financed by the American impresario Oscar Hammerstein to rival the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Situated at 22 Kingsway, London, the theatre was designed by the well-known theatre architect Bertie Crewe and finished in a lavish French Renaissance style. It opened on 13th November 1911 with a production of Quo Vadis?, but despite the opulence the venue was not a success and it closed soon afterwards.

 

 

 

The building was bought in 1916 by Oswald Stoll and converted into a cinema, reverting to a live theatre once more in 1941. During the 1950s the Stoll Theatre became a famous West End venue (especially for musicals) but was closed in 1957 and demolished in 1958. The final production at the theatre was Titus Andronicus, starring Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, which played to a packed house.