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  • Guatemala

    Guatemalan immigrates to Brazil

    March 6, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: My understanding is that this is an older Brazilian Carnaval mask, I picked it up on a trip years ago. Old or not I really like the mask and have kept it in the bath looking down on the unassuming visitor……it always gets a comment!  Justin, 617 A: First, a note of explanation.

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    Bob Ibold

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    The Aberdeenshire Find: A Guatemalan Gem in the UK!

    August 10, 2023

    Here is an authentic Guatemalan mask

    September 24, 2018

    Smiling Gracejo mask from Guatemala

    April 2, 2020
  • Mexico

    Something creepy

    March 6, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: The construction on all three masks is the same (one is pictured). Came across these when looking for some antique furniture. They were inside an old chest. I would suspect the teeth are cow or horse. Look forward to your comments.  Justin, 616 A: This is an attention-getting mask that surely comes from Urupan, Michoacan.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Tourist mask from Guerrero

    April 19, 2020

    Old Bull Mask from Mexico

    April 28, 2016

    What about this very old mask I inherited?

    July 16, 2013
  • Africa

    A rough old African

    March 1, 2014 / 3 Comments

    Q:  I have this mask and would like to know it’s origin. I hope you can help. Thank you, Vera, 615 A:  The mask is from West Africa.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Colorful Zaouli mask

    April 12, 2016

    Bamana Ntomo mask from Mali

    November 15, 2019

    Mwana Ngulu mask from the Chokwe people

    April 9, 2018
  • Europe

    Different part of the world

    February 27, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: I acquired these 2 masks from a 75 year old gentlemen. They were given to him by his father who said they were purchased in Alaska. They are made of wood. The teeth seem real. Maybe a man and woman? There are no markings on the back. The hair seems like horse hair. The larger mask is approx 12×7. There appears to be adhesive on the back. The detail on the smaller mask seems as if it was glued to leather. The adhesive looks like liquid nails.  Sharyl, 614 A: At first I thought they might be Native American because I have seen a old, Northern Iroquois masks that…

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    Bob Ibold

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    It’s Krampus time in Austria

    December 15, 2016

    Witch mask from Germany

    April 16, 2018

    Turnips fly at the Jarramplas Festival

    January 22, 2015
  • Mexico

    It’s fix-up time

    February 21, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q: I received this mask from an estate of a friend. It is at least 50 yrs old and was bought in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The horns are loose but real horn as are the teeth real teeth, as you can probably tell. There is a snake head sticking out of the mouth. Would it be worth restoring? I want to keep it. I have another one which is similar.  Jim, 613 A: For starters, the mask was made in Mexico rather than Ecuador,

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    Bob Ibold

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    Cheap Mexican decorative

    September 9, 2014

    Authentic or decorative– both can be desireable

    September 27, 2013

    PreColumbian death mask of Pakal the Great

    August 20, 2020
  • Mexico

    A poor mans Paragueros

    February 19, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: Your name and e-mail was given to me by a seller on E-bay- “mask monger.”  I found this mask in a box of things I bought at auction. I’ve called and e-mailed several different people hoping to learn a little history of this mask, and only mask monger knew anything. He said it might be a Paragueros mask- but told me to ask you. I’d be very grateful of any advice you could offer, thank you for your time. Tom, 612 A: Maskmonger made an interesting guess.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Entertaining Mexican mask by Candelario

    July 19, 2018

    Hermit mask from Michoacan

    August 17, 2018

    Mexican clay mask? Decorative or not?

    December 15, 2017
  • Africa

    Another West African Mystery

    February 17, 2014 / 2 Comments

    Q: Not sure if this is an original or not. Picked it up at an auction sale. Sure is an odd one but handsome enough…lol! Thanks for anything you can tell me.  Eileen, 611 A: You will have difficulty identifying this mask.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Chewa mask from Malawi, Africa

    April 9, 2018

    Mwana Ngulu mask from the Chokwe people

    April 9, 2018

    Bozo masks are usually real

    April 17, 2018
  • Africa

    I recognize the style but not the character

    February 11, 2014 / 4 Comments

    Q: 20-odd years ago I was doing some work in Ghana and came across this mask. At the time I thought it unusual and as far as I could tell (after a while you developed a sense of what is and what isnt ) seemed an authentic as opposed to carved for tourists item (but seeing as the Africans are past masters at aging items of course I could be wrong) anyway the mask always seemed to have a visual strength to it and I really like it. Recently I wanted to find out more about it and started looking for clues and despite a lot of searching can not…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Unusual Lipiko helmet mask

    June 6, 2014

    African Mystery

    October 26, 2020

    Authentic, used African mask

    February 8, 2015
  • Mexico

    Calavera Judio Mask

    February 9, 2014 / 4 Comments

    My book writing continues. There will be about 200 masks in the Mexican section so it was hard to pick just one for the blog. It is a skull, but not one for Day of the Dead. In Mexico, it is common during Semana Santa (Holy Week, the period from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday) for there to be Easter pagents, depicting the capture and crucifixion of Christ. Those who pursue and torment Jesus are called by various names, depending on the town or region. In the state of San Luis Potosí these negative legions are called Judios (Juduses) or Fariseos (Pharisees). They demonstrate ignorant, unruly and evil behavior, led…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Caiman mask from Guererro, Mexico

    May 26, 2018

    Very old mask? Maybe.

    March 3, 2015

    Holy Week mask from NW Mexico

    December 5, 2017
  • Oceania

    Many masks are made for money

    February 4, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: The pictures I sent were my dad’s mask today it fell off the wall and landed face up on the floor it was about 5 to 6 feet from the wall when I turned it over my dad labeled it with the name Tambanan Devil Mask it was hanging on a wall 7-8 feet high!!!! It was eerie and I’ve had things happening since New Year’s Day 2014 and I’m trying to figure this out!!!!  Susan, 609 A: Your dad bought a tourist mask made somewhere in Papua New Guinea.

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    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    New Guinea wood carving

    June 2, 2018

    Abelam yam mask from PNG

    June 25, 2020

    Mortlock Island mask

    August 16, 2017
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Quiz - Test Your Mask Knowledge

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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.

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