Igor Mitoraj, Veiled Face, 1977

A veiled face designed by one of Poland's best-known sculptors, Igor Mitoraj, was produced in 1977 as a New Year's gift from Christofle, a French silver and plating company. On the back of this small sculpture is a short, cast dedication with the then name of one of the owners of the Bouilhet factory. The history of Christofle dates back to the 19th century. Its founder was Charles Christofle, who in the mid-19th century sought a new technique for silvering his wares. It was invented by his nephew Henri Bouilhet, who, after his uncle's death, together with Paul Christofle, further developed the family business. Until 2008, there was also a museum in Paris named after the two owners.

Despite the intimate form of the sculpture, it bears all the hallmarks of Igor Mitoraj's outstanding work: references to antiquity, glorification of the ideal beauty of classical sculptures with a personal approach to the work emphasized in the form of clearly outlined, not veiled, lips stopped in an inexpressive smile.

(source: christofle.com)