Horace Brodzky mask, 1913

Australian-born painter Horace Brodzky travelled extensively, and lived in London in 1908–15 and again in 1923–69. He left Britain for New York in 1915 following the death of his close friend Gaudier-Brzeska, whose biography he published in 1933.

Gaudier made several portraits of Brodzky, including paintings, sculptures and sketches. This ‘mask’ was acquired by Ede in 1927, but then disappeared from public view until the early 1970s, when it was found in the shed at the back of the house. The chisel marks complement well the rough texture of the Portland stone, a sign of great sculptural ability which is especially evident in the mane of hair.