Q: If possible I would like to know more about this mask. I bought it at a yard sale for next to nothing. It’s not a mask I can identify anything about, so any information would be appreciated. Specifically interested in what culture, location or time frame it comes from and if it is a recent replica, what style it is based on. Leander, 1421 A: The inspiration for our little souvenir is a Gigaku mask that was used in 8th century Japan with music and dance for the upper classes. This scaled-down copy was probably made 2000 years later as an inexpensive piece of wall decor. C And now,…
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Hermit mask from Michoacan
Q: Could you please tell me if this mechanical eye mask is from Michoacán or Guatamala? I was told it is used in dance ceremonies. Is it old? Please advise. Paula, 1420 A: Paula says she does not collect masks. Yet, the experienced Mask Man reacted exactly the same as she did. That face at first reminded me of Guatemala, then I quickly realized it was a hermit in the Pastorela dance that is celebrated by the Tarascan people of northern Michoacan. It could also be a viejo (old man). Finally I looked at it more carefully and could tell it was old and used. A Mexican masks can be…
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Old Bella Coola mask from the NWC
An Exceptional Northwest Coast Bella Coola mask British Columbia in the 19th century. Finely carved and quite old, with remains of paint, stabilized insect damage consistent with age and use. Old museum numbers on the back. Provenance: Private Collection, Leipzig, Germany. The price realized by the Cobb Auctioneers was $14,000. Here is some history: During the 1800s collectors and ethnographers from around the world came to the Northwest Coast of British Columbia to collect items of material culture from what they believed to be the dying races of people who lived there. This process transformed the meaning of ceremonial objects, such as masks, for the people who lived there. Masks…
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Pale blue Javanese mask
Q: I would love some help with this mask. I picked it up in an antique/junk store in Maine. It was one of the higher priced items in the place. I paid $75 for it because I loved the look. The shop owner new nothing about it. It shows age, is made of a soft wood, and hand painted. Any info would be much appreciated. Steven, 1419 A: This female character mask has an unusual color combination that is quite pleasant. It appears to have been used and could be old. Look closely at the rear and you can see two holes that were used to hold a bite bar…
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Sardegna carnival mask from Italy
Q: I bought those 2 masks 10 years ago in Mamoiada, Sardegna. These are the 2 characters of this traditional carnival, the Mamuthones and the Issohadores. The masks are new. The procession itself is almost hypnotic, it is worth the trip, unfortunately in the winter, end January till early February. I just sent you these masks, because I did not see them in your book, I recently bought on Amazon. Jean, 1418 A: Only the black mask is shown, not the brown one. I try to limit the blog to just one mask. Carnivals in the island of Sardinia are a bit different from those in other parts of Italy…
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Bamun mask from the Grasslands
Q: Can you help me identify this wood carved mask. The mask is about 13-1/2” at the widest part and 19” in height from chin to top of head. My uncle purchased it from an artist in Honolulu in 1990. Ben, 1416 A: The masks comes from an important area that has distinctive masks and other folk art. The Grasslands of Cameroon are composed of three ethnic groups with ancestors in common. There are the one million Bamileke spread over the southwestern plateaus, in communities that have from 50,000 to 100,000 people; the 500,000 Bamenda-Tikar in the north; and, finally, the Bamum in the northwest, with a population of…
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Presentational Javanese mask
Q: This well-carved mask has a strong aura to it. My friend said that he had to take it out of his office because of it’s effect on people. What kind of ritual was it used for? Thanks in advance. Cha, 1415 A: It is well carved, but then not painted, which is not traditional for a Topeng character mask from Java, Indonesia. The most unusual thing about this item is the carved seal on the back. I wish someone would comment on its origin. I assume the lettering is in Malay. My guess is it was made to be a nice gift for an important person. It could…
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Don Juan the maskmaker
Mexico lost a great artist when Juan Horta Castillo, perhaps Mexico’s finest mask maker in recent years, passed away of a heart attack in 2006. He was one of the principal and most sought-after carvers from the famed mask-making village of Tocuaro, Michoacán. He won the national mask contest several times and traveled extensively demonstrating his skills. His sons now carry on his tradition and have made a name for themselves in the art of mask making. The decorative mask we have here is actually piece of fine art sculpture. Don Juan made it for collectors, not to be used in a dance. As I said recently in the blog…
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Kobeua Indian body mask from Amazon
Here is one of my favorite masks from the huge Amazon basin. It is old and used, but you can still find newer ones that are more colorful and have arms that are longer and more colorful. Made of bark cloth and raffia, they are meant to cover the full body. This costume plays an important role in the Kobeua’s initiation ceremony. Indians were among the first to come into contact with the European colonists when they landed in Brazil in 1500. The indigenous population was largely killed by European diseases, declining from a pre-Columbian high of millions to some 300,000 grouped into 200 tribes. However, the number could be…
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Should I buy this mask?
Q: What do you think about this mask, which is proposed to me for sale? It looks very nice, but I wonder if it is really as old as it is announced to be (early 20th)? Jean, 1412 A: Hope I’m not to late in answering you. Do buy it if you think the price is right. It is old and used. More over, it is well carved and very attractive.The number on the rear would have been carved at a morreria (costume shop). Very collectible. For those who aren’t familiar with this Guatemalan mask, it could represent either a Moro or a Vaquero in several different dances. There are…
