Q: Please share these images with Bob of African masks that we saw at an art opening in Cincinnati on Friday evening. (This one was priced at $1000, according to the label.) John, 1301 A: Here’s a nice find– a Nganga Diphomba that comes from the Southwest part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a female version, but of course, it would be worn by a man. The character’s purpose is to reveal the reason for an accident, illness or death. I think it is well designed, colored and accessorized. For a mask like this you must determine whether it is an excellent reproduction or an authentic artifact.…
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Lipiko mask from East Africa
I love these big helmet masks. It’s a 10-inch-high Lipiko of the Makonde people from Tanzania or Mozambique. It would be kept in a small hut behind the village elder’s home and shown at feasts or during initiation ceremonies. Represents a person of importance to the village for one reason or another– flattering or otherwise. They are well known for their facial scarifications and lip-plugs. The hair is real, probably from a barber shop. Still popular in culture, you can easily find them, often at a reasonable price. This one is an especially nice example that was recently sold at Sothebys. Please blow up the photo and tell me how…
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Japanese Kyogen mask
Here’s a Japanese carved wood mask that comes from the Asian Ethnographic Collection at the American Museum of Natural History. I especially like it because the design is strong while the colors are weak. Kyogen is the comic interlude between the serious dramas of Noh theater. Kyogen characters are homespun and funny. Japanese people love to display these masks in their homes and give them as gifts. This one is old and belongs in a museum.
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Tsimshian cedar mask from NWC
Q: I believe you may have used my King Island mask in your book. You were impressed with it front and back. In any case I just bought a mask and would like you to look at it. It was on eBay and I made an offer as he sent an appraisal letter. Not sure what to think about it and wanted another set of eyes to look at it. Thank you, Jim, 1298 A: I question whether this mask is from the late 19th century or was ever used in ceremony. Appraisals like the one you got are meant to please the customer. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Regardless, this…
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Primitive mask purchased in Goa
Q: Nate has sent me several emails with good photos of this carving he bought from a dealer in Goa. All the guy told him was that it was very old and worth a lot of money. I doubt if a mask like this comes from a prosperous ex-Portuguese colony on the West Coast of India. The big question is whether it’s an old tribal artifact or not. A: I have my doubts. But if you like your masks aged, you can’t do better than this one.
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Unusual African mask
Q: Any information on this mask? Origin, age, and purpose? Jordan, 1296 A: My first thought is quickly made tourist mask with no relevance to any culture. But those big red eyes with a large, single eye hole in between are very unusual. If I was cranking out tourist masks for the trade, would I make something like this? No, it’s too weird. So I can’t help you on origin, age or purpose. Maybe someone else can, or at least comment whether authentic or fake.
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Mexican Lucha Libre masks
This website is mostly about ethnographic masks that are used in celebration and ceremony. With Lucha Libre we are talking about something much different, and quite authentic. Caveat: the masks you see here are made for sale to fans who can’t spend a lot of money. The ones worn by the wrestlers are more expensive and can withstand lots of abuse. Masked wrestling is unique to Mexico. If you get to Mexico City… CMLL runs shows every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday night in Arena Mexico. CMLL always runs shows on those days, but they don’t announce who will be wrestling on those shows more than a week in advance. The shows are inexpensive,…
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History of Mexican masks
The first photo is a rare example of a wood mask used by Aztecs or some other indigenous tribe before the Spanish arrived in what is now Mexico. The few that exist today would be 500 years old. This one could also be Mixtec, is 6 5/8 inches tall, and is decorated with turquoise, black stone, shell and mother of pearl. From the Museum of Fine Art, Boston. Then I looked for some that display the Spanish influence that starts in the 1500s. The oldest one is from Northern Guatemala and the other– Southern Mexico. If you look at lots of Mexican masks, as I have, you will see that…
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Another unusual Balinese mask
Q: Purchased 02/19/2018 for $10.99. Raquel, 1293 A: Everything I just said to Brian applies to Raquel’s mask as well. On both we can see a slightly reduced quality typical of tourist masks. Those made for professional dancers are much finer… and more expensive. Most of these, both tourist and professional, come from either Mas or Singapadu, Bali, and are produced by hereditary carvers with excellent training. Please let us know who this guy is! C+
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Full Balinese mask
Q: I recently purchased this mask on eBay but it is not like any other Balinese mask I’ve found. I’m wondering if it really is from Bali and what character it represents if it is. Here is the listing url as well: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-Carved-Balinese-Wooden-Mask/112799483992?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Brian, 1292 A: This is one I haven’t seen before. There are so many different characters in the traditional dance dramas. Sometimes the uncommon ones also show up in the tourist shops, such as yours did. Maybe someone will help us with its name, but probably you will have to do some searching on Google.
