Q:  I purchased this mask at an estate sale about 5 years ago. I like that it is so realistic. It even had eyelashes. I think it may be Mexican and there appears to be some staining on the inside forehead, cheeks and chin. It is about 7 inches tall and 6 inches across. Thanks for any information you can give me.  Tom, 804 A:  It looks Mexican but is actually from the Philippine Islands. The eye holes and the rear give it away.

Q: The Hawaiian mask and rattle are a rare find, although obviously made in the last few years.  I’ve been to Hawaii many times and never seen an authentic gourd war mask for sale.  Aaron, 791 A:  We are fortunate that Aaron shares his recent mask purchases with us. This is a very realistic reproduction of a Polynesian warrior’s helmet mask made out of gourd.

Q:  This Asian mask was given to me by a student about 15 years ago. She was Japanese-Korean and the bride of a Vietnamese soldier.  That is about all I know. I am moving to Hawaii this Fall and am trying to downsize.  Thank you for your assistance.  Janis, 787  A:  This is a Hanhoe mask from the Gyeongsangbuk province of South Korea.

Q:  My husband acquired this mask from an antiques dealer and was told that it had been purchased in NYC the 70’s. We believe it is from Indonesia. We were hoping you could give us some more information.  Alicia, 778 A:  This piece of art is about 30 inches tall, so it is made for decorating a home. I think it is quite handsome, but is not a real mask.

Q:  A friend of mine found and purchased this mask at a yard sale but asked if i wanted it rather than her trying to donate it to a second hand store where it would likely have been discarded for being too “evil” for the local central NY population  Is it Japanese or something else? It appears to be wood with a thin veneer of plaster, one eye is intact but the second was damaged before my friend purchased it.  I have no idea how old it really is. There are worn leather straps inside for wearing it, and only one mark that appears to be a stamp on the…

Q:  I recently purchased this mask.  I believed it is carved from bone, possibly fossilized.  Sutures can be seen in the underside of the mask.  I do not know the type of bone or from what animal. Neither do I know its origin.  It measures 7.5″ long and 5.5″ wide. Feel free to ask any additional questions. Thanks for any info you are able to give me.  Herbert, 773 A:  Bones are an unusual medium for masks.

This mask from the Maonan people of Guangxi Province in Southeaster China is carved wood 10.5 inches high and is middle to late 20th century. There are many unique aspects to this portrayal of a senior military general in the Nuo theater. Some of the wood surface has been left unpainted and there is a carefully carved figure on the headdress. And look at those wide open eyes!  757

Q:  Could you please tell me what you can about these two papier mache masks- country of origin, age, purpose? One looks like an animal, possibly a fox, the other appears to be possibly a human caricature. I bought them together at a flea market last year and they look like they are from same maker. Thanks,  Sal, 746 A:  I believe this is an inexpensive mask made for ordinary people in Japan.

Q:  Hi, again– This is a mask collected by my elderly friend from an Iban area of Sarawak.  I love it (especially the cigarette foil teeth!), and I would really like to be able to tell her more about it.  Do you know what the use for such a mask might be?  Thanks again for your help!  Sarah, 741 A:  I usually don’t post two mystery masks from the same person, at least not in the same month. (Sarah’s other one is 738.)

Q:  I’m doing some research for an elderly friend on some masks she bought in Southeast Asia in the early 1980s. She was particularly interested in the Iban people of Borneo. Some of the masks are quite nice, but this one and another like it, confuse me.  They’re both about 24x15x10cm and seem to be carved of ironwood. The weight and the fact that neither have eye or mouth holes make me wonder if they were ever designed for use.  Thanks so much for your advice!  Sarah, 738 A: I like the way this mask looks, but I can’t pin it down to a particular culture because it is unfamiliar.