Q: Purchased in antique store for $35.00. All wood. Measures 30″H x 10″W. Has shells for eyes and a carved bird on the top. It has a string for hanging on the back. I have looked at a lot of masks and can’t quite identify this or put a value on it. Can you help? Charlene, 938 A: Thanks for the sharp photos of the front, side and rear. Good photos are always a big help to me. Papua New Guinea represents the last indigenous culture to be discovered by collectors. Now a few talented carvers are making especially nice pieces for the market. This particular mask is traditional in…
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Large Indian mask
Q: I have been trying to research this mask. I know it is from India but I am not sure if it is Ravana or Shiva? Also an age? I think it is late 19thC, early 20thC but someone has recently told me it was older? It is a large mask at 19″ inches in Length and 12″ wide and 7″ deep. Josh, 937 A: Shiva is a female deity, so it could be Ravana or some other male character. Unfortunately, there is no reference book about Indian masks to tell us the character’s name, the festival for which it is used, area it comes from, etc. A careful search…
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Sri Lankan healing mask
Q: I purchased this mask at an online auction over 10 years ago for around $60. It was listed as a large mask from India, over 100 years old. It is old, and big (21″H x 11″W x 9″D), but I’m not sure it’s Indian or over 100 years old. It’s completely hollowed out in back and has eye holes, so it could have been worn, but it’s vey heavy. It also has holes in the “bun” on top, with nails driven into it, and holes and nails around the perimeter of the mask. I’m sending these photos in hopes that you, or someone that follows your blog, might be…
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Steeplechase Funny Face
On top is the front and back of a cardboard half-mask promoting the Steeplechase. I don’t know if they were sold or given away as advertising specialties. Below is the painted image on a large metal sign. This Steeplechase Funny Face welcomed visitors to Steeplechase Park, the longest-running amusement park in Coney Island’s history. The grinning red mouth echoes the exaggerated smiles of barkers shouting out attractions to passersby. In some depictions of the Funny Face, such as the one here, the combed hair, parted in the middle, rises to two points suggesting horns, implying that “Steeplechase, the Funny Place” is presided over by a mischievous devil intent on subverting…
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Hannya, the she-devil
Q: I have a few masks for sale. (Then he lists each of them.) Jeff, 934 A: MasksoftheWorld.com does occasionally buy collections of masks. I also do appraisals for a fee. Here is one of the Noh mask photos Jeff sent to me. I will rate it a B, which is just a guess based on this fuzzy photo. If you go to “East Asia” on the right of this page you will see another, different in style, Hannya. They both represent the beautiful woman who fell in love with a priest and was turned into a hideous monster. There are many other Noh Theater characters. Japanese Noh Masks by…
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Probably from the Congo
Q: Purchased for $3 at a thrift store in Flint MI. This mask is wood, 13 1/2″ long x 8″ wide (to edge of ears). It’s kind of a greenish-black color. The inside is dark, the wood at the mouth area is very worn. Any ideas as to origin, age, etc.? It has numerous wormholes and much original painted striping. Any ideas as to age, origin, etc? James, 933 A: I guess this comes from somewhere in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not much help, because it’s such a big country and there are at least 100 separate cultures that produce distinctive designs. I hope someone will comment with a…
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Airport art
Q: Can you help me solve my boyfriend’s question whether or not these are evil? Rebecca, 932 A: This is not evil– just a waist of money. Decorative wall-hangings like this have been sold in airports all over Africa since the 1950’s. These carvings are meant for tourists and have little in common with traditional art. Thus the name “Airport art.” The Mask Man gets photos of this kind of stuff frequently and I always answer the sender’s questions, but never post them for others to see. I broke my rule today because I’d like to encourage interest in real African masks. Authentic folk art is much more satisfying than…
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Typical Guatemalan mask
Here is a nice Cristiano mask from the Dance of the Christians and Moors. It comes from Rabinal in central Guatemala. It represents a European man who has recently shaved. The Mayan people have a rich tradition of masquerade that is strongly influenced by Spanish classical art. This mask is part of Aaron’s collection. You can see more by looking for “Guatemala” in the Categories column to the right. Our go to pages 137-145 of our new book Masks of the World. And there are many other books that are entirely about Guatemalan masks.
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Basket-like mask from Europe
Q: Any thoughts about this mask? It is very large and completely woven. I have had it for some time, purchased at a garage sale. Could it be a mask that was used for “the running of the bulls?” Would appreciate any info you can provide. Mickey, 930 A: I’ve seen woven masks from all over the world. Some come from Europe, where bulls and other animals are favorite subjects. I have seen a bull from France that looks exactly like yours. With a little research or a helpful comment, we might be able to identify the village and what kind of celebration it is used for.
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Tschäggättä mask from the Swiss Alps
Q: I recently purchased this large old mask from a Canadian gentleman who had no knowledge of it’s origin or history. I’d guess it to be Eastern European, Tyrolean or possibly Swiss, but I’m not entirely certain where it’s from. I’m hoping you, or one of the many collectors who visit your site, may recognize it. It shows signs of use and has holes around the perimeter indicating it may have had a cloth or fur hood at one point. It also has a concave area surrounded by holes on the back that most likely held padding in place for the comfort of the wearer. It measures approx 14″X 9″,…
