Janet King on Pinterist has only this to say about the older mask: the Fijian people are the least talented mask-makers in the world. I doubt that, but this is the only example I’ve ever seen. We need to know more about size, material, history, usage, etc. Let’s hope someone makes a comment. The newer (and purely decorative) Fiji mask, with its turtle representing happiness, measures about 8 inches. This mask was hand carved and hand painted for the tourist trade. These fakes come in many colors or plain wood, and have that Tiki look we see in so many souvenirs from the Pacific Ocean area. The Fiji Islands are…
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Mask from Burkina Faso
Q: This piece was acquired in Spain sometime ago. 9 inches tall by 5 inches wide. The wood and the paint seems in good shape. I’d appreciate any information on this mask. I bought with 2 more masks (smallers) with similar colors and designs. Pedro, 1330 A: I’m not sure exactly what tribe this antelope mask comes from. The Bwa, Nuna, Gusrunsiand and Bobo all live in the dry savannah land of central Burkina Faso. All of them seek the help of powerful spirits who live in the wild forests, bush country and rivers surrounding their villages. Their masks represent the spirits that have some influence on the human being.…
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Kore mask from the Bamana of Mali
This beautiful reproduction of a Bamana mask, the kind that might be used by the Ndomo Society for circumcision ceremonies, is being offered on the internet for only $75. You can check it out here. I don’t usually do this, but I want young collectors to realize that a very nice collection can be put together for a modest amount of money. Spend as much time as you can going to museums and reading books so you know a good deal when you see it. And remember that truly collectible masks are rarely found in thrift shops or street stands.
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Carnaval mask, Bacolod, Philippines
Bacolod is known for its Masskara Festival which is a parade and party like that of Brazil. People wear masks and party out on the street, drinking, eating and having a great time. The mask motif of the festival has changed from masks influenced by native Spanish-speaking Filipinos to those influenced by the Carnival of Venice and the Rio Carnival. Earlier masks were hand-painted and adorned with feathers, flowers and native beads, while contemporary masks feature plastic beads and sequins. There is a big festival in the Spanish colonial tradition in Marinduque that is religious in nature. You can see a much different Morione mask in the Oceania Categories.
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Amazon Indian mask
Q: This mask measures 10″ high by 7″wide. A tag inside says it is from Columbia. An interesting feature is that the wooden ears are tied to the back of the natural fiber covering, and they extend out when worn. I got this one on eBay for $35 last winter. Thank you for any comment. Alfredo, 1327 A: Colombia extends into the northwest part of the huge Amazon basin. According to Barbara Braun in the Arts of the Amazon, there are at least seven native cultures occupying this area. My guess would be the Guahibo people made it. What Alfredo thinks are ears could also be teeth or horns.…
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Easter Devil mask, Guanajuato, Mexico
Q: I have to sell an old mask collection and need help. Please advise. I am going to send just a few right now so you can see that this collection is grand. I have to work right now and so I can get them the right size. Darla, 1326 A: These two Diablos are used in the Pastorelo dance. You can learn more about how Easter is celebrated in the state of Guanajuato on the internet. These two masks are great. The first one has those nasty creatures crawling all over the face, which is often done by the carvers in this part of Mexico. The other features a…
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Another Pedro Alvarado
Q: I am cleaning out my father’s home/estate and he had several masks (mostly Mexican). I believe a few are antique and at least one may be pretty valuable. I have attached pictures below and can follow-up with more pictures if you would like to see them. I am mostly curious about this one that I think is over 100 years old. Laura, 1325 A: What a coincidence. The same character comes in a day later. Laura’s Alvarado is a tourist mask that has been artificially aged, where as, yesterday’s is authentic.The biggest difference would be the quick carving and black paint on the rear of today’s. Neither of these…
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Popular mask of Pedro Alvarado
This is a favorite character in one of the most important dances performed in the hills of Guatemala. Heavily influenced by Western classical sculpture, the carvers, who are ethnic Mayans, make sculptures as if they were trained in the finest art schools of Europe. Unfortunately the quality of Guatemalan carving has gone down in recent years. If you go to the Guatemalan section of “Categories” you can see other examples of this kind of carving, both recent and older. I would give this mask an A- .Read more about Avarado, the famous Spanish general.
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3 steampunk masks
I my book, Masks of the World, there is a chapter called Steampunk & Sex. (We’ll look at sex masks some other time.) When Steampunkers don there strange masks and accoutrements they enter their own retro-futuristic steam powered world. The masks are wonderful to look at, as you can see. A lot of work goes into them so they are not cheap. Have you ever seen one?
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Woven yam mask from PNG
I recently posted a wooden yam mask in bright yellow. Here is a much different, woven-basket yam mask from the Abelam people, Maprik district, Sepik region, Papua New Guinea. It looks large– about 18 inches. Basket yam masks are also an essential part of the elaborate yam harvest ceremonies and festivals for the Abelam people. Rituals associated with yams form the basis of the spiritual life for them. Both the woven and the wood examples are important for collectors to have.
