Q: I found this at a goodwill store. Just wondering what the background is and if it appears to be authentic. Nathan, 679 A: Your mask an attractive reproduction of a classic Goli Kpan mask from the Baule people of Ivory Coast. This type of Goli mask always shows a beautiful women with an elaborate coiffure and elegant scarification. Yours is quickly made and artificially aged, but nicely proportioned and traditional in style. I like it.
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Popular Indonesian mask
Q: Bought this mask at an estate not sure what I want to do with it probably to be honest sell it. Lile, 678 A: This is Rangda, the most popular character mask from the classic Balinese dance dramas. People find them colorful and exotic. It is an inexpensive one that has been carved and painted quickly and can be purchased for very little money. If you search you can find photos of much finer examples, but they will cost more. A well made Rangda that has been used by a professional dancer for a long time would cost even more. Actually, B, C and D all apply to this…
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A pretty girl all dressed up
Q: I purchased this mask eighteen years ago from an individual. This mask is of particular interest due to its use of materials. Wood mask with hammered metal teardrop under the eye and each is attached with three brads. The mask is surrounded with cloth and crudely sewn. Seashells are attached to the cloth with thread. Two folded over half round circles are attached thru the cloth and have what I assume are rocks in them to make noise. Unfortunately, my wife discarded the certificates of origin. Wood mask size 5” wide X 8” tall. From cloth to cloth 9“ wide. From cloth to bells 12.5” tall. James, 677 A: …
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World traveling mask
Q: I have a second mask if you would like to see it. I got them from my uncle some years ago. He got the 2 of them in Russia about 25 years ago, though I’m sure they are much older than that. I assume they are of Germanic origin but really don’t know. Any info you can provide would be great. Thanks. Josh, 676 A: Foreign folk art often turns up thousands of miles from where it was made.
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Don’t be fooled by old looks
Q: We purchased this mask and have no idea about it. It is made of one piece of wood. The motif atop the mask is of a man riding a cat which has a man in it’s mouth. There appears to be an export wax stamp on it but we cannot make out the characters and there is a price tag of $890.00. Lizzy, 675 A: Masks like this have a nice antique feel and are excellent wall hangings.
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Rare protective mask
Q: I’m a collector based in Chicago who specializes in mostly gas masks or war masks weather they be cold weather pieces or pilot respirators. I have a few very scarce pieces that I was wondering if you would be interested in purchasing. The mask pictured is an unknown WWI era Italian prototype mask. It was obtained from a very well known collector in Spain who owns about 2500 masks. It comes in a tin which is stamped 1916 but the mask may possibly be post-war and just stuffed into an older tin. It is definitely pre-WWII though. It looks to be based off of the tampon mask but has…
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Mask carving in Bali
Q: I have been traveling for 12 years and collected a few masks on the way. Only recently I have looked into my boxes with my stored collection and found this nondescript mask, which I can’t for the sake of it remember where I bought. Maybe you can help me? Bo, 673 A: This is an unpainted decorative wood carving from Bali done in a combination of styles.
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Beautiful West African mask
Q: Hello, I have this African mask, but I am unsure of its tribal attribution. Can you or any of your visitors assist? Thank you very much! Andrew, 671 A: Looks like a Baule or Guro mask from the Ivory Coast of West Africa.
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Good reading
MexicanDanceMasks.com will take you to a new blog by Bryan Stevens, a well-respected collector and author. Bryan collects masks from all over Mexico, but his wonderful book, Mexican Masks and Puppets, concentrates on folk art from the Sierra de Puebla mountains that run through the states of Puebla and Vera Cruz in Eastern Mexico. I think some of you will really enjoy this new blog because it is so different from the one you are reading now. MasksoftheWorld.com is about all of the cultures of the world and Bryan’s new blog focuses on just Mexico. Therefore, Mexicandancemasks.com digs much deeper into the art and culture of a people. If…
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Children will like this
Q: Hello, I have attached a mask of what I believe to be a deer but not sure. Perhaps you could tell me a little about it. Dustin, 669 A: It is a deer. In Guatemala the people of Mayan decent have several masked dances that feature deers.
