In case some of you don’t know Spanish, La Puta means whore. These characters often show up in Mexican dances and parades. More from Aaron on his buying trip to Veracruz, Mexico:  “Another guy, who wasn’t a mask maker but sold sweets in front of his house, had a truly amazing collection.  As we passed by, I admired his collection, and he invited me into his tiny 2-room home.  Classic Mexican hospitality.  This guy had nothing, probably made $2000/year.  I asked him if he was willing to sell any of them, and he said they belonged to his children and grandchildren, so no dice.  I could have made him quite…

Aaron often sends photos of masks he has purchased recently. This one is by a famous mask masker who lives in Veracruz, Mexico. His masks are worn by dancers in the area and are sold in shops and galleries. His masks are always distinctive, with faces that often remind me of the Grim Reaper. Step into the dark side and buy one of his masks for your collection. Lino’s masks are usually quite affordable. Here is what Aaron writes. As you can see, he does a great job of documenting his collection. TITLE: Calavera Cobra TYPE: mask GENERAL REGION: Latin America COUNTRY: Mexico SUBREGION: Veracruz ETHNICITY: Nahua DESCRIPTION: Cobra-Headed Calavera MAKER: Lino Mora Rivera,…

Q:  I’m having a hard time figuring out where this mask would be from. It’s very simple but the wood seems to have some age to it. Any advice would be great thanks!  Dustin, 1182 A:  I think this face would have been used in the Dance of the Tlacololeros at least 50 years ago. That thick wood is probably tzompantli, a light weight material favored by Mexican carvers in the old days. Having said that, there is no way I can be sure because Mexican carvers have been making and aging fakes since the late 19th century. Unlike an African mask, the odds favor this piece as being authentic.…