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  • Guatemala

    Yellow Guatemalan mask

    April 7, 2015 / 2 Comments

    Q:  I wonder if you could tell me anything about this mask. I purchased it at auction in a small town near Ottawa, Canada. It was described as a Victorian Carnival Mask. Thanks for your time, Rod, 761 A:  The best I can do is tell you it is probably from Guatemala. I have no idea what the character is or what part of the country it comes from.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Guatemalan immigrates to Brazil

    March 6, 2014

    Patzcar mask from central Guatemala

    May 21, 2020

    Guatemalan mystery mask

    July 19, 2020
  • Native America

    Iroquois whistler mask

    April 3, 2015 / 1 Comment

    Q:  I have attached 3 items and am interested in the name, age and what country each of them are from. Thank you.  John, 760 A:  This is a “Whistler” made in the style of the Iroquois False Face Society masks that have been used by Indians in the Northeastern part of America for many years. You can still buy new ones, as well as other styles, at many reservation tourist shops.

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    Bob Ibold

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    NWC Indian mask

    February 6, 2016

    Authentic Tlingit ceremonial mask

    July 3, 2015

    Tsimshian spirit mask of the upper air

    April 6, 2020
  • Africa

    Toma Poro Society mask

    April 2, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  Bought with a lot of PNG material, but seems not to fit with them. 14 inches long. I’m mostly interested in masks from Oceania and Europe.  Kim, 759 A:  At first I did not recognize this mask, but I now realize it is a very simple version of the well-known masks used for boys participating in initiation rituals of the Poro Society throughout the Toma ethnic group located in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

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    Bob Ibold

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    African tourist mask

    May 8, 2017

    Chokwe Pwo mask of Angola or DRC

    December 12, 2018

    Be careful of this guy

    December 7, 2013
  • Mexico

    Master carver of the Sierra de Puebla

    March 23, 2015 / 3 Comments

    Q:  I got this mask in a public house located near Cuetzalan, Puebla, in which is common to see several masks hanging on the wall. This a Teodoro Tacuepian creation. Actually, i was at his workshop in Zacapoaxtla, trying to acquire some masks, but he only had 2 masks on sale, a Pilatos and negrito. The technique and the particular shape of the nose tell me it’s a recent creation. With age his technique has become more rough. Now he is almost 100 years old and still working.  Yusef, 758 A:  That’s our man. Teodoro Tacuepian Galvan was born in 1911 and did not start carving until late in life.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Mexican day of the dead mask

    October 16, 2018

    Old decorative mask from Guerrero

    June 24, 2019

    Entertaining Mexican mask by Candelario

    July 19, 2018
  • East Asia

    Rare old Chinese Nuo mask

    March 19, 2015 / No Comments

    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

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    Bob Ibold

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    Unused Shishi mask from Japan, circa 1960

    July 12, 2015

    Why such a distorted Japanese mask?

    September 17, 2018

    The best Noh masks are carved wood

    August 21, 2013
  • Africa

    Rough Guro antelope mask

    March 14, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  What do you think of this hand carved work of African primitive art? Its modeled to depict a horned face with cut out openings at the eyes and has a warm patina. It is hardwood,18 inches tall, slightly cracked and chipped.   756 A:  I think it is African, perhaps an antelope mask from the Guro people of Ivory Coast.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Chokwe Pwo mask

    May 18, 2018

    Pende deformity mask

    July 7, 2020

    Makonde breast plate

    December 10, 2015
  • India & Himalayas

    Indian folk art at its best

    March 11, 2015 / 2 Comments

    Q:  How can I find out where this mask is from? It is large enough to cover most of the wearer’s face and is made of hand sewn of leather, fabric, sequins and gold thread. I’ve tried searching photos of masks from asia, south america and africa but can’t find anything that seems similar.  There are 3 others with the same coloring, shape and stress on eyes.  Cheryl, 755 A:  What a lovely piece, and a good example of Indian folk art at its best.

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    Bob Ibold

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    India

    Wow! Another Indian mask

    September 30, 2013

    We’ve never seen this one

    August 15, 2013

    Garuda mask from India or the Himalayas

    February 28, 2020
  • Mexico

    One of many classic Tigres

    March 11, 2015 / No Comments

    Tigre is the word for jaguar in Mexican slang, and it was the apex predator for thousands of years until recently, when it finally became extinct throughout the country. It also plays an important role in Mexican mythology and shows up as a character in many folk dances. This mask is a Tigre for the Tejorones dance done in the Costa Chica area in the state of Oaxaca. Different versions of the jaguar-inspired mask are made throughout Mexico.

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    Bob Ibold

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    The wild and crazy Tastoanes

    July 5, 2016

    Entertaining Mexican mask by Candelario

    July 19, 2018

    Rare Mexican performance mask

    February 5, 2016
  • Misc

    Fall forward tomorrow

    March 7, 2015 / No Comments

    Some of you may not know about the Steampunk movement, or the fact that it includes masks. The genre started with Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Mary Shelley. Later the term steampunk was coined by K. W. Jeter in the late 1980s. It was a clever way to describe his and a few other authors’ style of writing, tying the word cyberpunk to the Victorian era.

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    Bob Ibold

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    We-Guere Mask from Africa

    October 24, 2018

    Large mask or sculpture

    September 11, 2020

    Prison art of beverage pull tabs

    February 18, 2018
  • Mexico

    Very old mask? Maybe.

    March 3, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  I just purchased this mask at an auction in Georgia.  It’s made of wood and is approximately 6″x8″.  I was told it dated to the late 1800’s.  Any information you could provide is greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your help.  Cindy,752 A:  It could be a Christian, Viejo, or some other character from Central Mexico.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Rey del Moros from Veracruz

    August 1, 2017

    Old Oaxacan mask

    April 11, 2016

    Specialized mask collecting

    October 31, 2014
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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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