Q: I purchased this mask I believe in 1998 from a gallery (now closed) in Beverly Hills, CA called “Mozambique by Design.” At the time a certificate of authenticity and some history was provided in paperwork, but it has since been misplaced. I believe this is an ivory coast mask made of wood. Do you have any further details on it? The mask wasn’t cheap when I bought it! William, 765 A: This is a decorative Guro mask from Ivory Coast, far away from Mozambique. For a number of years skilled Guro carvers have been making beautiful and very creative pieces like this for the collector market.
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Art of the Fang people
Q: I bought this mask at Marrakesh, in a shop full of articles of South-Saharian Africa: Benin bronzes, Dogon windows, Igbo, Fang or Punu masks… even some python or leopard skins. I bought this one at the same time I bought a fang mask but I don’t know who made this one. Josema, 764 A: It seems to be a Fang also, but simply and quickly made. The design is great… and I think most collectors would enjoy seeing it on their wall. It looks so West African.
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The famous dollar mask
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that the maker of this unusual mask is a neighbor of mine whom I admire and whose work I will unashamedly promote. The artist is Mark Wagner and he has become well known in the world of fine art for his collages crafted out of US currency– specifically the one dollar bill featuring The Father of Our Country, missing in this case. I think you’ll enjoy seeing more of his art at http://markwagnerinc.com/
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Mexican mask made of copper
Q: Purchased at a swap meet in Texas. Material seems to be copper with remnants of a cloth mesh backing. Was told it was African, but no real idea. LG, 762 A: Your mask comes from just south of the border in La Parota, Guerrero. Masks like this were made for tourists visiting the mountains of Northeastern Guerrero since the early days. In 1981 a book called Mexican Masks was published and the author, Donald Cordry, said these large beaten-metal masks were used many years ago in a Rain-Petitioning Dance, but most collectors today know they are strictly decorative. They are attractive and some still show up in museums and…
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Yellow Guatemalan mask
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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Iroquois whistler mask
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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Toma Poro Society mask
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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Master carver of the Sierra de Puebla
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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Rare old Chinese Nuo mask
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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Rough Guro antelope mask
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.
