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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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    A piece of primitive Himalayan art

    June 22, 2014

    Old mask purchased in Kerala, India

    August 14, 2019

    Bronze helmet mask from where?

    November 13, 2019
  • 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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    Native American Octopus mask

    October 19, 2017

    Iroquois false face mask

    January 2, 2018

    Tsimshian spirit mask of the upper air

    April 6, 2020
  • 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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    Mardi Gras goes back to 1699.

    March 28, 2017

    German witch mask

    April 13, 2019

    Fasching mask from the German or Austrian Alps

    October 16, 2017
  • 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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    Bamana Ntomo mask from Mali

    June 15, 2017

    Bamun mask from the Grasslands

    August 13, 2018

    African Lulua mask with holes

    December 31, 2018
  • 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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    Olmec carved stone mask

    January 16, 2021

    Red Moor mask, E. Central Mexico

    December 6, 2020

    Diablo from Oaxaca, Mexico

    May 20, 2018
  • 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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    Old Bull Mask from Mexico

    April 28, 2016

    Unusual Mexican Tigre Mask

    June 3, 2016

    Old Huave mask from Oaxaca

    September 12, 2015
  • 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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    Celebrity mask we all recognize

    February 23, 2016

    We-Guere Mask from Africa

    October 24, 2018

    Rare stingray mask?

    February 26, 2021
  • 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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    Africa’s greatest mask

    April 27, 2020

    Female Kifwebe mask from the Songye

    June 8, 2015

    Very West African

    February 24, 2016
  • 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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    Mask made from a turtle shell

    November 12, 2017

    Bronze helmet mask from where?

    November 13, 2019

    A mystery from Africa

    January 23, 2017
  • 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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    Iban mask from Borneo

    February 11, 2015

    Chinese theater mask

    July 18, 2015

    Chinese dragon mask

    June 4, 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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