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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

    Court Jester Mask

    September 2, 2020

    Venetian bird mask

    May 21, 2015
  • 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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    Balinese masks, the most dramatic

    November 28, 2018

    Classic Javanese dance mask

    June 21, 2015

    Classic dance mask from Java

    May 23, 2017
  • 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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    Another mystery mask from West Africa

    August 1, 2015

    Some Guro masks are profitable art

    May 10, 2017

    African art show in Bloomington, IN

    February 12, 2015
  • 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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    Amazon tribal mask

    December 18, 2018

    Indian mask from SE Brazil

    February 9, 2017

    Classic mask from the Amazon

    January 6, 2014
  • 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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    Interesting mystery mask

    May 6, 2018

    Ancient clay mask

    March 6, 2018

    Bronze helmet mask from where?

    November 13, 2019
  • 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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  • 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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    This mask was purchased in 1989 in Bali

    July 17, 2013

    Classic Javanese dance mask

    June 21, 2015

    Sometimes repairs are a good idea

    December 30, 2015
  • 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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    Embark on a Mask-terful Journey: Oaxaca, the Ultimate Starting Point for Aspiring Mask Collectors!

    May 2, 2022

    Pre-Columbian masks & statues

    November 26, 2019

    Hermit mask from Michoacan

    August 17, 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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    Central African mask with nasty smile

    November 1, 2015

    White-faced African with little beak

    December 28, 2016

    West African mask with coins on her head

    September 18, 2015
  • 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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    A great storage unit story

    February 9, 2016

    Subali the monkey king

    January 6, 2017

    Petruk from East Java

    July 26, 2017
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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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