 Q: I purchased this mask in an antique store in the UK for £85, it was labelled as an ‘ancient green man mask’– but I’m not sure if this is right. It is 34cm tall, 24cm at its widest and about 13cm deep. It seems like it is pretty old. I’m not sure if the red inserts in the eyes are original. It looks like the holes may have been filled in at some point. Any help identifying this mask would be great! Chris, 1256
A: Every thing you say is true. It could even be truly old with an interesting back story. And it sure would make a nice wall hanging. But it’s not a real mask. Here is what Wikipedia has to say…
Green Man is a stone or ceramic sculpture of a face surrounded by leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the mouth, nostrils, or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit. Commonly used as a decorative architectural ornament, Green Men are frequently found in carvings on both secular and ecclesiastical buildings. The Green Man motif has many variations found in cultures around the world. The Green Man is often related to natural vegetative deities. It is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring. https://www.wikipedia.org/  |
Old Man mask of Japanese Noh theater
Egyptian burial mask
