• 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
  • 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.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Perfect photos of Guatemalan mask

    August 2, 2020

    Rare Guatemalan mask

    June 14, 2018

    The evolution of masquerade in Guatemala

    January 3, 2017
  • 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.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Another Mexican decorative mask

    July 10, 2019

    Pre-Columbian masks & statues

    November 26, 2019

    The infamous Barbones mask from Mexico

    March 13, 2019
  • 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.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Puno maiden spirit mask

    January 22, 2019

    Art of the Fang people

    April 14, 2015

    African Influences in Modern Art

    August 24, 2020
  • 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…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Masquerade in Switzerland and Germany

    February 9, 2017

    Gschell mask from Germany

    May 4, 2018

    Tschäggättä mask from Switzerland

    December 31, 2016
  • 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,

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Authentic Mexican devil mask

    May 20, 2020

    Decorative Day-of-the-Dead mask

    May 16, 2020

    Mexican tin mask for tourist

    June 15, 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.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Routine Mexican Devil

    November 12, 2014

    Old Oaxacan mask

    April 11, 2016

    Used skull mask

    January 7, 2016
  • 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.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Bwa Nunuma mask, Burkina Faso

    July 10, 2020

    Red Mwana Pwo mask

    December 2, 2015

    African owl mask with handle

    April 28, 2017
  • 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…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Toma Poro Society mask

    April 2, 2015

    Ekoi mask comparison

    February 14, 2017

    One of my favorite masks… Chewa

    January 13, 2019
  • 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…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Mexican tin mask for tourist

    June 15, 2020

    Good-looking tigre mask

    September 23, 2016

    The infamous Barbones mask from Mexico

    March 13, 2019
  • 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.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Tago mask from PNG

    February 7, 2017

    Mah Meri mask from Malaysia

    February 2, 2016

    Yellow yam mask from PNG

    March 12, 2018
117118119120121


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 ©