Q: I bought this mask on eBay last year for $65. The seller did not know much about it, but some research on my end leads me to believe that it is from Cameroon. Does it look at all authentic to you? The reason that I ask is that there are no holes on the sides for wearing it. Thanks very much. Fred, 1111 A: The famous author Ladislas Segy says this kind of mask was worn by the Bamum and Bamileke people at the beginning of the hunt and at the new-moon ceremonies. This particular carving is for export or sale to the tourist trade. Authentic African masks are…
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Sri Lankan mystery demon
Q: Right now the mask is hung up on a wall and very heavy. I have attached some photos. The back story is that it belonged to my wife’s grandmother who dabbled in antiques and traveled a lot. We have this mask and a Maui kava kava sculpture. The family remembers these items as kids, so it is at least 30-40 years old. I could not find any marks inside, or find any other mask via the Web that looks close to this. I think it’s origin may be Tibetan. Since she passed I started collecting other masks, but nothing of this caliber. Jeremiah, 1110 A: This Sinhalese (the largest…
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Pretty Raksha devil from Sri Lanka
We’ve never seen this one
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The famous PNG mud man mask
Q: Here is a mask I picked up in my travels in Florida. Went to Goodwill and found this Asaro mud man mask dated 1997. This was on a paper label inside the mask. Really great condition. Teeth are real. Other bone and seed decorations really cool. Scary looking. Deb, 1109 A: A lot of the people who write to me found their mystery mask in a thrift shop… and it is usually junk I can’t publish. This one was probably made for tourist, but it certainly is not junk. The style is perfect, it’s been carefully made and decorated, and it would be nice for any collection of Oceanic…
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Mexican dog mask
Q: We bought this mask in New Orleans in an antique shop about three years ago. It cost $90 and was from a man who collected masks. We would love to know where it comes from and have never seen another one like it. It was labelled as a wolf mask. Thank you so much for your assistance. Jenny, 1108 A: It could be a wolf or a dog. Both play roles in several Mexican dances. It would be nice to know what state it came from, the village and the dance. Brand new and without holes and straps, it was probably made for the tourist trade. I like it! …
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Big mask from Tanzania
It is 11 by 23 inches and weighs 9 pounds. I have seen a few monster masks photographed by anthropologists doing field work in West Africa, but I don’t remember the details. This one has a wonderful, traditional design that I think I’ve seen before on a normal sized carving. There is dark stain front and back that has been partially rubbed off. It could be a tourist mask, but why make it this big and difficult to ship? Please help! Note to smartphone users: those are not little white fangs in the mouth. Bob, 1107 Save Save Save Save
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Ekoi mask comparison
Q: Every year in Tucson, there is a Gem & Mineral Show that lasts about a week and takes over most of the city. Among other things, they also have an “African Village” where sellers from all over Africa come to hawk their wares. Most of it is tourist trash, but every once in a while someone shows up with a gem. This comes from the Ekoi (aka Ejagham) people of the Cross Rivers area of Nigeria. Other than it being a helmet mask of an antelope, I’m not sure what type it is. The other Ekoi animal masks I’ve seen had a more crocodile look to them. Maybe someone…
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A Thai hermit mask rarely seen
Q: Do you want to use this mask for your website? This special hermit mask is a Lersi Por Gae that was made for a Thai shaman. It is beautifully made and has written mantras in Pali all over the face. Only 4 years old, it has never been danced, but is still authentic in the sense that it was part of a shaman’s shrine. Quite rare, I’ve seen only one other so far. Steph, 1105 A: Blow up the second photo as large as you can and see how finely Thai maskmakers can form and decorate these papier mache masterpieces. If you have a copy of Masks of the…
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Hard to identify or just tourist
Q: I have a large mask from up-country in the Ivory Coast. I believe this is the original article and not a tourist “knock off.” I’m looking for more information as to origins and price. Can I send you a pic? (later) More pictures, at last, Bob. Sorry still not one of the back. The mask is languishing in Vietnam with friends who are about to move back to the states. If you know anyone who wants to rescue it let me know. David, 1104 A: I think this is a tourist mask from Africa or Asia. Most of the masks in thrift shops or the Internet fall into this…
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Masquerade in Switzerland and Germany
I would like to send to you a few pics about an event which takes place in my home town roughly every 10 years. It is a regional meeting of masks coming from the German parts of Switzerland and from southern Germany. It was great, there were some 60 groups, most of them with real, carved wooden masks. I think that the event proves that masking culture is well alive here north of the Alps. By the way, the photo with that mask wearing a black-red-white hat and cloth is a very well-known figure around here, the so-called “Blätz”, which means simply “an old piece of tissue”. This, because in…
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Indian mask from SE Brazil
Q: I’m looking for a mask from the Xingu River region. I’m not sure what I’m looking for specifically, but I would love to see what there is! Leah, 1102 A: There are many Indian cultures in the huge Amazon region of Brazil. Though I can’t find anything from the Xingu River area, this excellent Karajas piece come from the Araguaia River area in the Matto Grosso lowlands just to the west of the Xingu. It is a tall and elaborately decorated ijasó headdress with grass mask and skirt. They are always made in pairs, and represent spirits called by shamans to visit the Karajás’ villages. Maybe someone who reads…
