Large and Impressive Benjamin Franklin Portrait Plaque. Uniface. Cast Bronze. 340 mm (13 1/2 inches). Not listed in Greenslet, or noted in any other references we can access. A fine portrait, facing left, with Franklins facial features burnished, appearing much lighter than the deep bronze finish of the fields and the highlighted details of his hair and clothing. There is no artists signature or manufacturers mark, and we have no idea of its provenance. We are assuming, because of its size and weight, that it was intended to be displayed on a monument, or on the side of a building, but because it shows no signs of weathering, it was never installed, or was mounted inside a building. There are three threaded holes on the reverse which reveal no definite clues about whether it had been affixed to anything or not. As to age, we cannot venture anything other than "20th century." A bit of a mystery, but an very attractive piece by a skilled sculptor that will certainly attract the interest of collectors of Benjamin Franklin memorabilia.
