Got wood?

I am back from the dead! Actually, I have been retired for about a month and have both relapsed into my thrift shop addiction and also had time to very selectively add a couple of new items to my pile. Here goes!

unnamed bust, Vic Mason, 7"x3"x3", unknown wood, carving, 1987

This is just cute, in an eerie dead guy sort of way. It is very well done with fine detail and finish. The glasses are made from a single piece of heavy brass (?) wire which is not easily flexed, which may account for the fact that it is still attached to this bust.

The glasses are held onto the sculpture only by the tension of the wire.

The carving is finely finished and polished on all sides.

And, finally, it is signed and dated! The number 17  on the price tag suggests that it was displayed in an exhibition of some sort. I suspect it may have been produced as a project by a student at one of the nearby universities, Bradley University, Eureka College, Illinois State University, UIUC or Illinois Wesleyan University, since I found it at a thrift shop in Washington, IL. It seems perhaps a bit too finely done to be the work of a high school student. Really all guesses. It could easily be the work of a professional fine artist. I have found a significant number of works from all around the world in this area. The is possibly due to the travels of the faculties of these universities or by employees of a few large corporations in the region.

The only artist I have found to date that is a candidate to be the artist is Victoria Mason of Australia, though it appears that she is mainly a jewelry artist. I have sent an email to her asking if this is her work.