Europe

Old-style Charlie Chaplin mask

Q: Hi, I got this mask on a yard sale, I’ve never seen something like it, and am asking for an opinion. Ericka, 1577

A: At the age of 82, I have seen images of Charlie Chaplin hundreds of times. But for millennials he could be ancient history. Several years ago I posted a very similar mask. The copy said…

Halloween Charlie Chaplin Mask. Dresden, Germany. Painted papier mache. Hand-painted and constructed of heavy papier mache, this mask probably was made for Fasching. Germans call the pre-Lenten Carnival Fasching or Fastnacht, Americans call it Marti Gras.

Here is what Wikipedia says today…

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, “The Tramp”, and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. His career spanned more than 75 years, from childhood in the Victorian era until a year before his death in 1977, and encompassed both adulation and controversy.

Help! Can anyone identify the signature on the back of Ericka’s mask? Or just spell it? The best I can do is “D’Losantos.”

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