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  • India & Himalayas

    Mask from somewhere in India

    September 10, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: This mask looks familiar, but I can’t quite place it. It definitely seems Himalayan. Is it maybe a Monpa mask from Tibet? I’d love to get your opinion. Aaron, 831 A: I don’t think it is Himalayan. Perhaps a little further south in India, maybe all the way to Sri Lanka. I would be glad to put it on the Mystery Mask blog, especially if you would send a little more info. Then Aaron writes: I don’t think it’s Sri Lankan.

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    Troy

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    Masks of the Himalayas

    March 16, 2018

    7 masks from the Kuchipudi theater in India

    January 8, 2018

    Jeweled bronze Mahakala

    March 5, 2018
  • Native America

    A pair of mystery masks

    September 8, 2015 / 7 Comments

    Q: We ended up with two masks we could not identify. Could you help us out please. Thanks so much, Norb (Visitors should know that Norb is constantly visiting estate auctions where he always wins the best items for a reasonable price. You can visit his store at www.estateauctionsinc.com 830 A: I can’t remember ever seeing masks like these two. Obviously, they are from the same culture and time period. I suspect they were used in culture, perhaps a long time ago. If I had to make a guess, I’d say they’re both from Alaska. If that turns out to be true, they would be of great interest to serious…

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    Troy

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    From the far, far northwest

    March 31, 2014

    Hopi masks returning to America

    January 19, 2015

    Iroquois false face mask

    February 15, 2019
  • Europe

    Traditional folk art from the Alps

    September 8, 2015 / 3 Comments

    Q: The mask in the photos was purchased at an auction. The husband and wife were both university professors – she taught art and he taught history. They had many South American and American Southwest items. They also had a lot of older Chinese and Japan pieces. We purchased a Thai mask, but this one was intriguing. There was no provenance as there was no family left to validate where this mask was from. The mask measures (measuring from the back side) 9.5″ tall and 7.25″ wide. This does not include the trailing mustache.

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    Troy

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    Tschäggättä mask from the Swiss Alps

    March 3, 2016

    Interesting Sardinian mask

    January 2, 2015

    Rare chimpanzee mask from the Tyrol

    July 21, 2018
  • Africa

    It reminds us of the Congo

    September 6, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: Hi Bob, I found this small mask at an estate sale this weekend. It is made of carved wood and measures 8″ in length, 4.5″ in width and 3″ in depth. The owner described it as a “Wisdom mask from the Congo”. Any further information would be much appreciated. Thanks, Simon, 828 A: Yes, this mask looks like it came from the Congo region. Perhaps it is a “wisdom mask.” But I don’t think we can attribute it to any particular culture or think of it as a true example of

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    Troy

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    Guro elephant mask from West Africa

    March 10, 2020

    Bobo mask from Burkina Faso

    November 27, 2018

    It’s a buyers market

    August 18, 2016
  • Mexico

    More info on masks

    August 30, 2015 / No Comments

    Here is a mask of St. Thomas that is from Xochiatipan, Hidalgo, Mexico. On 8/28 you saw a skull mask from Guerrero, Mexico, a Devil from nearby Michoacan, a Guerrero Jaguar, and a whore from Veracruz. If you want to know more about Mexican masks just go to the column on the right and click on “Mexico.” You’ll see 41 recently posted blogs about masks from that same fascinating country.

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    Troy

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    Attack of the powderpost beetles

    July 28, 2016

    Specialized mask collecting

    October 31, 2014

    One of many classic Tigres

    March 11, 2015
  • Mexico

    Great mask show in Lancaster, PA

    August 30, 2015 / No Comments

    Masks of Mexico will be on view Sept. 12 – Nov. 8, 2015, at the Lancaster Museum of Art in downtown Lancaster, PA. Here is the museum’s description of the show. This exhibit focuses on the masks that are used in the many rituals and celebrations performed in the cities and small rural villages throughout  Mexico’s various states.  The majority of states with traditions of using masks are represented in this exhibit through more than 200 masks. Grouping all these works together reveal the various forms, styles and colors that Mexican carvers employ.  The masks are made from carved wood, papier-mache, leather, cloth, ceramic, metal and other materials and display…

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    Troy

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    Reproduction of pre-Columbian Mexican mask

    December 26, 2018

    It’s fix-up time

    February 21, 2014

    Charming old Mexican mask

    March 3, 2017
  • Misc

    Revealing the Trauma of War

    August 30, 2015 / No Comments

    “Brain injuries caused by blast events change soldiers in ways many can’t articulate. Some use art therapy, creating painted masks to express how they feel. Brain trauma from blast force is the signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, afflicting hundreds of thousands of U.S. combat personnel. Although unseen, the damage strikes deeply into a soldier’s mind and psyche.” This is how a recent article in National Geographic begins. It has lots of pictures of masks made by the recovering soldiers. You can see the whole article by going to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/healing-soldiers/

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    Troy

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    Old, wood Green Man mask

    December 20, 2017

    World’s oldest masks displayed

    October 12, 2016

    Feathered carnival mask

    February 22, 2019
  • Africa

    Kota Reliquary Figure

    August 30, 2015 / No Comments

    This is a Janus reliquary guardian figure from the Gabonese Republic of West Africa. It would have been used by the Kota people in the mid-19th century. It is actually a piece of sculpture, but people who collect African masks always love them. It is made of wood, copper, brass, iron, cowrie shell and measures 23 × 12 × 5 in. This is a promised gift to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is from Terry and Lionel Bell in honor of the museum’s 50th anniversary.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Kuba nyet mask

    June 16, 2016

    Popular Salampasu mask from the DRC

    June 12, 2017

    Modern Chokwe mask?

    June 25, 2017
  • Unknown

    Decorative or authentic

    August 30, 2015 / 4 Comments

    Q:  Here again I submit a mask that I have not been able to identify. Made of light weight, balsa like, wood. It measures 7.7″ in height x 7″ in width and 3″ in depth. I’ll be grateful for any input on the origin of this mask.  Louis, 823 A:  The Mask Man is stumped again. I just can’t remember where I might have seen something like this before. The front is fresh and may have been repainted. The rear could be showing real usage.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Yet another Mystery Mask

    August 3, 2015

    Another exciting mystery mask

    December 9, 2017

    Strange mask of natural materials

    September 22, 2015
  • East Asia

    Thai decorative mask

    August 30, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  Can you tell me something about this mask? Its 25 cm high and light. And made of wood.  Brian, 822 A:  Here is another example of a mask that would never be used in the culture.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Samurai metal face mask

    May 8, 2018

    Could be controversial

    December 14, 2014

    Mask from Timor, East Asia

    August 23, 2018
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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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