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  • Discover & Learn,  Europe,  History,  Misc

    Unveiling Krampus: The Dark Side of Christmas

    December 14, 2023 / No Comments

    The holiday season is synonymous with joy, warmth, and the spirit of giving. Yet, in the heart of Europe, nestled amid the snow-covered villages and twinkling lights, lurks a figure that shatters the serene facade of the holiday season. Meet Krampus, the yin to Santa Claus’s yang, and the harbinger of holiday chills and thrills. Krampus, with his sinister appearance and a penchant for punishing naughty children, is a folkloric creature primarily associated with Central European Christmas traditions. This half-goat, half-demon character sports twisted horns on his head, a long red tongue that lolls menacingly from his mouth, and cloven hooves that echo ominously through the streets. The Krampus legend…

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    Paula Diaz

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    A Brief (and Quirky) History of Masks – From Prehistoric Art to Pandemic Protection

    July 18, 2023

    The Fascination of Native American Masks: Unraveling History, Artistry, and Cultural Wisdom

    July 13, 2023

    Why Does My Nepalese Mask Have a Red Wax Seal?

    March 7, 2025
  • 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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    Contemporary Greek carnival masks

    May 12, 2020

    Witch mask from Germany

    April 16, 2018

    Bulgarian kukeri masks

    December 5, 2018
  • Europe

    Chocalheiro mask from Portugal

    October 17, 2020 / 1 Comment

    This mask is part of the cultural heritage left by Celtic settlements in the north of Portugal (13th Century BC). Masks were a central part of pagan rituals at the time, representing demons, animals and valued human assets such as wisdom, happiness and experience. Chocalheiro masks are one of the most well known symbols, and the old pagan rituals brought by the Celts gave birth to the festivities that have been kept throughout the centuries in several villages in the north, with slight variations from place to place. They represents a pagan entity, which is neither good or evil. In fact, such descriptions were only introduced in the rituals when…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Something different

    November 3, 2013

    Masquerade in Switzerland and Germany

    February 9, 2017

    Unique to one town in Spain

    December 11, 2015
  • Europe

    Court Jester Mask

    September 2, 2020 / No Comments

    From hundreds of years ago to today, this famous mask has been used in Europe and the Americas a lot. They can be made of leather, like this one– or plastic, papiermache, cardboard, etc., plus many different colors and designs. They have always been used in theater, carnivals, parties, holidays and celebrations. They can be found in all sorts of places at almost any price. Always fun to collect, you can gradually work your way up to an older, high-quality mask like ours. If you’re an oldster like me, you might need something to do during the pandemic. Bob, 1758

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    Bob Ibold

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    Tschaggatta mask from Swiss Alps

    March 13, 2018

    Swiss mask-maker talks about Das Domino

    January 23, 2018

    Different part of the world

    February 27, 2014
  • Europe

    Contemporary Greek carnival masks

    May 12, 2020 / 3 Comments

    Q: I haven’t seen any photos of contemporary Greek masks in the site yet, so I thought I could share one to bring some attention to their great carnival tradition. In the attached picture you can see the main masks of the Boules carnival (Bride and Janissary) from Naoussa, in Greece. I had the opportunity to spend some time with an artisan family that have been making these masks and costumes for generations, and I learned how much tradition there is in every aspect of it (masks & costumes, performances, dancing, etc.). When I got these masks then, I even got the male one custom-fitted to my head! (the in-process…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Swiss Butzi by Othmar Klauser

    October 13, 2016

    Romanian traditional mask

    April 17, 2018

    Brighella from the Commedia dell’arte

    January 18, 2016
  • Europe

    Old European mask?

    February 21, 2020 / 1 Comment

    Q: I bought this mask as a “Perchtenmaske” on Ebay, but I think it´s not European. Its made of leather and the nose and the eyes are wooden. Maybe you can give me some information. Peter, 1663 A: After studying your photos I think you might have an old, used artifact that could be worth a lot of money. It certainly looks authentic. But where is it really from? Perchten is an ancient pagan festival meant to drive out the devils of winter in early December with a Perchtenlauf or parade of these devil like creatures through the center of Austrian villages. Yours also might be a type I have…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Long nose mask from Baden-Württemberg

    December 12, 2016

    Masks we don’t see often

    September 11, 2018

    Swiss mask-maker talks about Das Domino

    January 23, 2018
  • Europe

    Tschaggatta mask from Swiss Alps

    January 18, 2020 / 4 Comments

    Q: This is a Native American mask. I would love your reaction/input. Dominikija, 1654 A: On February 8, 2019, a viewer submitted a similar mask that he found in an attic in North Carolina. It was roughly 10 inches tall (minus the hair) and 8 inches wide. It appeared to have real teeth. Take a look at #1515 in our archives. What I thought was a Cherokee Booger mask was actually a small, decorative Tschäggättä mask from Lotschental in the Swiss Alps. The Mask Man had gotten it wrong. Well, I’m not going to make that mistake again. Incidentally, you can easily learn more about this traditional European mask with…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Basket-like mask from Europe

    March 4, 2016

    Something different

    November 3, 2013

    Traditional mask from the Swiss Alps

    December 7, 2015
  • Europe

    Botarga mask from Spain

    November 8, 2019 / No Comments

    Different parts of Spain have their own unique ways of designing masks and costumes for celebration. I believe the botarga, a distinctive character associated with the traditional winter festivities in the region of Guadalajara, is the fifth blog I done on Spanish masks. They are all different. The botarga is a character connected to today’s religious celebrations. Its origins are thought to date from pre-Roman times and to be related with fertility rites. The mask’s typical accessories are the brightly colored costume, a truncheon, castanets and the cowbells tied around the waist. It is made of brightly painted walnut wood. The face resembles a devil, with an open mouth, pointed…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Tschaggatta mask from Swiss Alps

    January 18, 2020

    Fasching mask from the German or Austrian Alps

    October 16, 2017

    European art mask

    May 29, 2016
  • Europe

    Old-style Charlie Chaplin mask

    June 10, 2019 / 1 Comment

    Q: Hi, I got this mask on a yard sale, I’ve never seen something like it, and am asking for an opinion. Ericka, 1577 A: At the age of 82, I have seen images of Charlie Chaplin hundreds of times. But for millennials he could be ancient history. Several years ago I posted a very similar mask. The copy said… Halloween Charlie Chaplin Mask. Dresden, Germany. Painted papier mache. Hand-painted and constructed of heavy papier mache, this mask probably was made for Fasching. Germans call the pre-Lenten Carnival Fasching or Fastnacht, Americans call it Marti Gras. Here is what Wikipedia says today… Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 1889 –…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Contemporary Greek carnival masks

    May 12, 2020

    Tschaggatta mask from Swiss Alps

    January 18, 2020

    Old masquerade traditions in Portugal

    November 8, 2017
  • Europe

    Strange masks from Basque country

    May 15, 2019 / 5 Comments

    Q: Hi, I am Basque from the Spanish Basque Country, do you know anything about Basque masks? We have some in our traditions. Fernando, 1563 A: I know nothing about Basque masks. So I looked around the internet and found these four crazy masks from the the appropriate region of Northern Spain. All four seem to be photographed at local carnivals. Perhaps you could do some research, and maybe one of our viewers will have something to contribute as well.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Contemporary Greek carnival masks

    May 12, 2020

    Another interesting Buso

    October 21, 2016

    Ancient Greek theater mask

    May 28, 2018
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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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