Ladislav Stoll Commemorative Bronze Plaquette Appraisal

Ladislav Štoll Commemorative Bronze Plaquette

This is a commemorative bronze or base-metal plaquette featuring a profile relief portrait of Ladislav Štoll (1902–1981), a prominent Czechoslovak Marxist literary critic and politician. The item is unusual for its non-circular, irregularly rectangular shape with rounded, curved sides. It is crafted in a cast or deep-struck metal, finished with a matte, greyish-pewter patina that highlights the heavy textures of the skin and hair in the likeness. The portrait depicts Štoll in his later years, wearing characteristic horn-rimmed eyeglasses and a suit with a tie. The name 'LADISLAV ŠTOLL' is embossed vertically on the left side, while the lifespan dates '1902-1981' are positioned on the right. The background of the plate shows circular brushing or tooling marks from the manufacturing process. The item is presented in its original display case, featuring a vibrant red flocked or velvet-lined interior shaped to nest the medal securely. There appears to be a separate slot above the medal, likely for a smaller lapel pin or ribbon. Condition is excellent with minimal surface wear, suggesting it has been preserved as a collectable. The style is typical of Eastern Bloc social-realist commemorative art from the early 1980s.