• Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • About
  • Contact
Masks of the World

  • Home
  • Blog Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • Masks
  • Blog About
  • Home
  • Blog Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • Masks
  • Blog About
  • Mexico

    Show stopper from Guerrero

    October 6, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Just got this mask and have searched 1000’s of pages on the net and cant even find where it may be from please help!  Anne, 689 A:  Tourist masks (also called decoratives) have been made in Guerrero, Mexico, for more than a 100 years. They’re always antiqued to look old and used. By the 1960’s their designs were getting more elaborate and experimental. I have never seen one like yours and may not ever again. They still appeal to certain types of art collectors. Perhaps you would like to go this route, but be careful not to pay too much money for them. They don’t hold their value well.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Day of the Dead usually means decorative

    August 9, 2013

    Mexican tin mask for tourist

    June 15, 2020

    Rey del Moros from Veracruz

    August 1, 2017
  • Caribbean

    I call this Caribbean

    October 1, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  33 inches, painted paper mache believe to be from South America. Got it from a friend as a gift. Had a horn off the top of the head but is missing. The outer horn looks like it was to fit inside another horn that is still inside the mask. Mask is large enough to fit over your head. Can you give approx. value and let us know if this is something we should hold onto?  George, 688 A: From Panama, the people who make these big papier mache Diablico Sucio masks are obviously influenced by the Caribbean, and this is true of other parts of Central America as well

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Puerto Rican art mask

    April 13, 2018

    Where does this mask come from?

    September 5, 2018

    Haitian masks are not expensive

    February 18, 2018
  • Mexico

    High-end Mexican mask

    September 29, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: I have a lot of very good Mexican Dance masks that I bought from a collector in Mexico City when I lived there a few years ago but I don’t have one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=301332462024. Could it possibly be worth this kind of money?  Christophe, 687 A:  This is indeed a very desirable mask. It is called a Parachico and is made in Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    One of many classic Tigres

    March 11, 2015

    Show stopper from Guerrero

    October 6, 2014

    Parachico mask from Southern Mexico

    April 7, 2018
  • Mexico

    A different kind of devil

    September 25, 2014 / 3 Comments

    Q:  Nathan D. suggested that I contact you regarding the pair of masks that I bought from a well known financier’s estate. He purchased them from a gallery in NYC in the late 70’s. I was told by his son that they are “Mexican Death Masks”, but everyone that I have shown them to, has no idea what they are and has never seen anything like them. I am an African art collector but was so fascinated by them that I had to have them. They are constructed of hand painted thick, leather, genuine goat horns and goat hair, I believe. The insides of the masks are woven. The black…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Mexican tin mask for tourist

    June 15, 2020

    Tigre mask from Mexico

    May 15, 2016

    Authentic Mexican masks, fakes & decoratives

    November 1, 2018
  • Africa

    A favorite type of African mask

    September 25, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  This mask looks like ebony wood.  It is 20″ x 9″ wide.  It was a gift from a friend who traveled extensively.  I have had it since the 1990’s.  Cheryl, 685 A:  We see thousands of masks of this basic design and, frankly, in never get tired of looking at them. Here is a little more information.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Another interesting mystery

    February 1, 2016

    Kpelie masks can be wood or bronze

    August 22, 2013

    Unusual mask from the Congo

    October 7, 2013
  • Africa

    Is it as old as it looks?

    September 18, 2014 / 2 Comments

    Q:  Please check out this mask. The seller says it is old (I know they always say this). If you want I can send you few more close-ups. Your opinion is very appreciated. Reminds Luba but these horns.. And also the stitches, were they made on purpose so the mask looks old? Or are they real? The mask has 2 holes at sides and 3 holes for the beard. This is Kigali, Rwanda. Thank you.  Sayn, 684 A:  It’s a horned Kayamba mask from the Lega people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    A woman’s mask from West Africa

    April 7, 2017

    I recognize the style but not the character

    February 11, 2014

    Lenape Indian helmet mask?

    November 24, 2015
  • Bali & Java

    Is this Balinese mask old?

    September 12, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Hi, my mother recently acquired this mask when a relative passed away, and I was really curious as to what the mask was depicting and how it may have been used. She thinks it is from Bali, but I have no idea. Thank you for your time!  Zack, 683 A:  Your mother is right. It is a beat up Rangda mask that might actually be an antique.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Subali the monkey king

    January 6, 2017

    Balinese clown mask

    May 11, 2019

    This mask was purchased in 1989 in Bali

    July 17, 2013
  • Mexico

    Cheap Mexican decorative

    September 9, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Can you tell me something about this triple head (man and some type of animals) mask.  Made of wood.  I don’t know anything about it but need to sell it and want to say the truth about the mask.  Thanks,  Tina, 682 A:  About 40 years ago I bought my first mask. It was an inexpensive but very colorful piece that was made by the same group of carvers in Guerrero, Mexico, that made yours.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    The famous Barbones mask

    March 18, 2014

    Famous old Mexican tourist mask

    September 18, 2020

    Info on 2334 masks

    April 18, 2018
  • Africa

    Hard to recognize East African

    September 7, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  I purchased this mask from an auction or estate sale and was wondering if you could tell me if it’s a tourist mask or actual tribal. Thank you. David, 681 A:  I was having trouble identifying this mask and asked my friend Aaron to help. His first choice was the Makonde people who live in both Tanzania and Mozambique.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Kefwebe mask for a museum

    July 6, 2020

    Chewa mask from Malawi, Africa

    April 9, 2018

    Kota reliquary mask from Gabon

    March 22, 2020
  • East Asia

    A little about age

    September 6, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  This mask was bought on Borneo and is said to be from the Iban on Borneo used for rice-field ceremony. It comes from the Kapit area. I am curious whether it is authentic (indication is that it comes from the 1920’s).  Adam, 680 A:  Simple, primitive masks that look like this can be found in many cultures throughout the world including African, Himalayan, Timorese, Mexican, etc. Fortunately, you know exactly where yours was made.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Japanese repros are desirable

    September 10, 2013

    Real mask or not

    November 13, 2014

    The Dayak people’s favorite

    June 11, 2014
110111112113114


Quiz - Test Your Mask Knowledge

Click Here Take The Quiz

Mystery Mask Value Code

A - high value*

B - collectible*

C - decorative art

D - low value

* A and B do not always imply higher dollar value. Most masks get a C or D, however I usually don't post them.

Archives

Masks of the World - 2025 ©