Every so often I plan to repeat one of my favorite masks posted years back. This one is a Nuo monkey mask from Jinguan village, Anshun district, Guizhou provincial territory. It’s an 8.3 inch thin carving with a sturdy native repair. The old Nuo mask was obviously used for a great many years and the wear has resulted in a wonderful patina. The monkey’s face is portrayed with deftly carved lines and each eye is highlighted with a metal tack. In my opinion– Chinese folk art at its best. Masks like this are becoming hard to find.
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Emit mask from Thailand
Q: Here is the latest Ermit mask I found and it is probably the best one I got so far . Comes from the personal home shrine of a Thai person I met. It’s very funny how nobody pays attention to these particular masks. Most antique dealers here focus on traditional dance Khon masks but not on Ermit masks which happen to be more interesting and more powerful because they are still used in Shamanist-Brahmanist ceremonies. Feel free to use the pic for your book if you want. Cheers , Stephff, 652 A: Thanks for your help.
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The Dayak people’s favorite
Q: I found this mask in a Chinese junk shop in Miri Borneo. I believe it to be pretty old but don’t know the story behind it. What or who does this represent. 16″ H, 11″ W. Scott, 647 A: It is from Borneo and is called a Hudoq mask.
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Beautiful Buddha
Q: I’ve had this and another very similar mask for some 15yrs. They were found in a skip! 18″ tall 11″ wide and made I think of balsa, they are very light anyway and feel furry. I have seen Balinese masks similar but very rough in comparison. Where do you think they are from and what age? The faces were bright white but years of hanging in my Scottish cottage with smoky wood burner has given them a ‘mature patina’ Ha ha! Al, 641 A: This is a sculpture of the Buddha, not a mask.
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Many Japanese masks are for display
Q: Handed down from great, great Japanese grandfather, don’t know history before that. Have matching Buddha face. Made from clay? Approx. 7 ins. Nancy, 631 A: How nice it is to have a handsome piece that used to belong to your grandfather.
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Maori design on masks and tattoos
Q: That would be just fine with me if you post my Maori mask on your blog. I purchased it in 1989 at The Auckland Museum. The mask measures 5 ½ “ x 11 ¼ “. Edward, 628 A: I’ve never had a Maori item on the Mystery Mask blog.
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One of the great masks of the world
Q: (Part of an email that included several recently purchased masks.) The Baining mask is gigantic, about 5 feet tall from chin to top and maybe 3.5 feet long. I have nowhere to put it, so it’s piled on my other masks. I need a museum at this point. Aaron, 587 A: Congratulations on your recent acquisitions.
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Unusual metal mask from Indonesia
Q: A friend has sent me this metal mask. I don’t think it’s authentic ethnographic but I can’t place the likely origin. I thought possibly Indonesian. Any ideas? Jon, 567 A: I agree on Indonesia, the southern part, Timor or Sumba.
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What makes a mask desireable?
Q: I keep finding slightly damaged Japanese masks on the market. Do the Japanese grade things differently than the US does? This seems to confirm it. The Japanese seller considers this mask to be “fair.” Interesting to see such different grades of quality being applied. Nate, 563 A: A lot of Western collectors are obsessed with authenticity.
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Japanese repros are desirable
Q: I picked up 8 of these Masks at a estate sale. Would like to know what you think of them. All are signed but one. I do not know ofwhat material they are made. 9 x 7 inches, there seems to be some wear on nearly all of them. Pete, 541 A: All 8 of your Japanese masks were made at the same work shop.
