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  • Europe

    European Theater Mask

    July 30, 2021 / No Comments

    Q: Any idea where this is from? I inherited it from an uncle who had it in the 1950’s. He was a frequent visitor to Paris and I suspect he bought it at the Flea Market there. It is 15″ tall to the top of the ears (which look like some kind of leather).

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    Troy

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    Brighella from the Commedia dell’arte

    January 18, 2016

    Ntanos Blast Mask

    January 30, 2018

    European art mask

    May 29, 2016
  • Bali & Java

    Java Monkey Mask

    July 13, 2021 / No Comments

    Q:  I purchased this from an antique store for $75. Carved from a single piece of wood with a small purple gemstone inset on the forehead. Measures approximately 9 inches from forehead to chin, about 5.5 inches deep, and 5.5 inches across. Store owner said she purchased as part of a lot of masks from a collector at auction. Was labeled as possible exorcism mask from Nepal. – Shannon

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    Buying masks can be tricky

    September 10, 2016

    Character mask from rural Java

    December 4, 2019

    Did she get a good deal?

    September 21, 2018
  • Africa

    Northern Rhodesia Mask (now Zambia)

    June 28, 2021 / No Comments

    Q: My mother ordered this mask from a collector in Northern Rhodesia in 1949. (now Zambia). There is a letter from him and a note in the back mentioning a tribe which I cannot read clearly. Maroshe? Mashona is the only tribe I could find close to that spelling. It is made of very dense, dark wood and there was at one time hair attached as topnotch and beard? It may have suffered from the many moves of a Navy family over the years, or it may have come like this.

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    Reproduction of Lega mask

    April 22, 2018

    7th Chewa Mask blog

    November 16, 2020

    Beautiful religious artifact

    September 24, 2013
  • South America

    Tikuna Animal Mask

    June 21, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q: I am hoping that you might be able to help me identify this mask and shed some light about it’s origin/provenance/significance. My parents collected mostly African and Asian masks/statues and I consider myself to be (moderately) good at placing origin/regions, but this one completely stumps me.

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    Troy

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    Always go for quality

    March 21, 2014

    China Supay half-mask from Bolivia

    January 17, 2016

    Diablada mask from Ecuador

    January 8, 2017
  • Unknown

    A Mystery Mask

    June 16, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  I am a collector of Roman and Greek archaeological finds. A few days ago for my birthday they gave me this mask. I just don’t know about masks and I don’t know what culture or era it can go back to. It is about 6 cm long. Unfortunately, I can’t even understand what material it is made of. It could be lead. Alex

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    Great folk art carving

    September 19, 2015

    Strange mask of natural materials

    September 22, 2015

    A wild and crazy mask

    January 14, 2017
  • Featured

    Ask Us About Your Mask

    September 15, 2017 /

    Do you have a mask you’d like to learn more about? Or maybe you have a seriously cool mask you want to show us? This free service includes a brief description and sometimes an opinion of your mask. It is not an appraisal… however, we might put a bold-faced letter grade that suggests value at the end of the description.

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    Troy
  • Bali & Java

    This big Barong is meant to scare

    November 7, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: I am trying to gather as much material on the masks I own….for my children. I never bothered to write down how much they cost, where I got them and when. Wish I was more diligent. The photos are of a large wood carved mask. Do not know anything about it. Was bought at a indoor flea market. Any thoughts? Mickey, 856 A: Barong masks are used in village ceremonies held in rural Bali and Java. These large, heavy masks must be held with the aid of two handles protruding from the rear. The mouth can be moved up and down. This one is of a boar, but there…

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    Early Balinese mask

    July 25, 2015

    Old Balinese mask

    May 17, 2019

    Classic dance mask from Java

    May 23, 2017
  • Mexico

    Unusual Mexican bird mask

    November 6, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: Looking through your older posts, I saw an unknown mask (Nov. 2013) which resembles one I have. Mine has a bird on the front. Very light wood. Bought with another one at a flea market. It has a tag inside which has the following: S. Pedro Teozacoalco. dist. Zaaohila. Mexico. It also has the following (which I translated using google translations): “The godmother of the bride (or groom) mask. Used during the blessing ceremony.” Any thoughts on its age, or what the inscription S. Pedro Teozacoalco means? Mickey, 855 A: I asked Bryan Stevens, the most knowledgeable collector of Mexican masks I know, about this.

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    Another great decorative

    August 19, 2016

    Embark on a Mask-terful Journey: Oaxaca, the Ultimate Starting Point for Aspiring Mask Collectors!

    May 2, 2022

    Maranquilla mask for Carnaval

    March 9, 2018
  • Africa

    Pwo mask from the Congo

    November 4, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: I found this mask the other day at a local thrift shop. The wooden portion is about 12″ tall, 6″ wide, and 2″ deep. It has carved decorations on the face including a swastika on each side of the chin. There is a wicker armature attached to the mask that holds the hair in place. On the inside of is what looks like sheets of moss. There is a knot, about 2″ wide, like a bun, in the hair at the top of the head. The hair is a mass of pieces of crude rope. Some of the rope ends are cut and others have large knots tied in…

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    Lipiko mask from the Makonde

    June 3, 2015

    Janus head mask from Africa

    February 11, 2020

    Pende African buffalo mask

    January 17, 2021
  • Bali & Java

    Comedy character from Java

    November 3, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: “I will always answer your email.” Quote from you, Bob. Well, I haven’t heard word one from you. I first submitted my mask about a year ago, I think. When I hadn’t heard anything for several months and reviewed your site and did not see it, I resubmitted my photos. Still no word. I’m still very interested in any information you might give me. Let me try this again. Joanne, 853 A: Joanne, thank you for being so patient with me. I hope I can deserve it.

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    Troy

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    A Barong mask that seems too small

    January 10, 2014

    Indonesian dance mask for the poor

    September 18, 2018

    That old and used look

    April 5, 2016
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Quiz - Test Your Mask Knowledge

Click Here Take The Quiz

Mystery Mask Value Code

A - high value*

B - collectible*

C - decorative art

D - low value

* A and B do not always imply higher dollar value. Most masks get a C or D, however I usually don't post them.

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