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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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    Typical Guatemalan mask

    March 7, 2016

    Guatemala is the place for masks

    May 25, 2017

    Death mask of Pakal the Great, Palenque

    March 21, 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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    Charming old Mexican mask

    March 3, 2017

    Mexican clay mask? Decorative or not?

    December 15, 2017

    Mexican homemade mask

    August 26, 2017
  • 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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    Puno mask from Africa

    August 26, 2019

    Punu crest mask or reliquary head

    November 3, 2016

    Guro Zamble mask

    September 8, 2017
  • 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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    Unique to one town in Spain

    December 11, 2015

    Court Jester Mask

    September 2, 2020

    Old Venetian carnival mask

    August 21, 2017
  • 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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    Gypsy mask from Tlaxcala

    April 9, 2016

    Typical, old Mexican mask

    September 22, 2015

    Recent Mexican decorative

    June 23, 2017
  • 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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    Beware of barking dog

    May 21, 2014

    Leather mask from Mexico

    October 28, 2016

    Authentic Mexican masks, fakes & decoratives

    November 1, 2018
  • 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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    Beautiful Kwele antelope mask

    March 24, 2017

    A special African mask

    July 30, 2020

    Another African hybrid

    January 14, 2014
  • 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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    African bird mask of questionable value

    September 16, 2020

    Dan mask from Liberia or Ivory Coast

    February 29, 2020

    Tourist mask… from Africa or Asia?

    October 9, 2018
  • 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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    Pre-Columbian Indian mask

    July 21, 2020

    Strange Mexican mask

    June 16, 2016

    6 Mexican Devil masks

    November 18, 2018
  • 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

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    Who knows this wild man?

    May 2, 2014

    Dayak hudoq mask

    April 11, 2019

    Sepic River area mask

    June 15, 2016
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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.

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