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  • East Asia

    A charming old carving

    October 20, 2014 / 3 Comments

    Q:  Thank you for this great service. Here is a mask I purchased from Mauna Kea Galleries. I know very little about the mask. It is made of a hard wood and said to collected 1845 and looks to be made from a oak barrel. It looks to have been nailed at one point. The wood looks a little to fresh to be from 1845 to me. Please help with this mystery item. It measures 11 3/4 by 5 1/2 inches.  Ryan, 691 A:  This is a very intriguing piece.

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    Bob Ibold

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    June 9, 2020

    What makes a mask desireable?

    October 4, 2013

    The best Noh masks are carved wood

    August 21, 2013
  • East Asia

    Unusual yam mask

    October 18, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Got this in the family 80 years ago. It is 14” wide and 15″ high with a double face that seems to go on the head.  Alex, 690 A: This is an unusual form of woven yam mask from the the Asmat culture of Papua New Guinea.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Nuo mask from Guangxi, China

    August 24, 2017

    Could this be WWII family treasure?

    August 22, 2013

    Bone mask or not?

    May 3, 2015
  • Mexico

    Show stopper from Guerrero

    October 6, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Just got this mask and have searched 1000’s of pages on the net and cant even find where it may be from please help!  Anne, 689 A:  Tourist masks (also called decoratives) have been made in Guerrero, Mexico, for more than a 100 years. They’re always antiqued to look old and used. By the 1960’s their designs were getting more elaborate and experimental. I have never seen one like yours and may not ever again. They still appeal to certain types of art collectors. Perhaps you would like to go this route, but be careful not to pay too much money for them. They don’t hold their value well.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Authentic Mexican devil mask

    May 20, 2020

    Mexican dog mask

    February 17, 2017

    Unusual Mexican decorative mask

    December 1, 2017
  • Caribbean

    I call this Caribbean

    October 1, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  33 inches, painted paper mache believe to be from South America. Got it from a friend as a gift. Had a horn off the top of the head but is missing. The outer horn looks like it was to fit inside another horn that is still inside the mask. Mask is large enough to fit over your head. Can you give approx. value and let us know if this is something we should hold onto?  George, 688 A: From Panama, the people who make these big papier mache Diablico Sucio masks are obviously influenced by the Caribbean, and this is true of other parts of Central America as well

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    Bob Ibold

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    Where does this mask come from?

    September 5, 2018

    Elaborate Dominican masks

    September 11, 2016

    Diablico Sucio carnival mask

    November 1, 2015
  • Mexico

    High-end Mexican mask

    September 29, 2014 / No Comments

    Q: I have a lot of very good Mexican Dance masks that I bought from a collector in Mexico City when I lived there a few years ago but I don’t have one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=301332462024. Could it possibly be worth this kind of money?  Christophe, 687 A:  This is indeed a very desirable mask. It is called a Parachico and is made in Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Nice old Mexican man

    December 9, 2016

    Day of the Dead mask

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  • Mexico

    A different kind of devil

    September 25, 2014 / 3 Comments

    Q:  Nathan D. suggested that I contact you regarding the pair of masks that I bought from a well known financier’s estate. He purchased them from a gallery in NYC in the late 70’s. I was told by his son that they are “Mexican Death Masks”, but everyone that I have shown them to, has no idea what they are and has never seen anything like them. I am an African art collector but was so fascinated by them that I had to have them. They are constructed of hand painted thick, leather, genuine goat horns and goat hair, I believe. The insides of the masks are woven. The black…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Typical, old Mexican mask

    September 22, 2015

    Mexican diablo mask

    October 11, 2019

    New mask from Michoacan

    April 15, 2018
  • Africa

    A favorite type of African mask

    September 25, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  This mask looks like ebony wood.  It is 20″ x 9″ wide.  It was a gift from a friend who traveled extensively.  I have had it since the 1990’s.  Cheryl, 685 A:  We see thousands of masks of this basic design and, frankly, in never get tired of looking at them. Here is a little more information.

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    Bob Ibold

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    The Bushoong do fine masks

    April 5, 2016

    Decorative African mask

    January 10, 2016

    Small West African mask

    January 29, 2015
  • Africa

    Is it as old as it looks?

    September 18, 2014 / 2 Comments

    Q:  Please check out this mask. The seller says it is old (I know they always say this). If you want I can send you few more close-ups. Your opinion is very appreciated. Reminds Luba but these horns.. And also the stitches, were they made on purpose so the mask looks old? Or are they real? The mask has 2 holes at sides and 3 holes for the beard. This is Kigali, Rwanda. Thank you.  Sayn, 684 A:  It’s a horned Kayamba mask from the Lega people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Dan mask from Liberia or Ivory Coast

    February 29, 2020

    Bamun mask from the Grasslands

    August 13, 2018

    Bottom of the line

    April 25, 2014
  • Bali & Java

    Is this Balinese mask old?

    September 12, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Hi, my mother recently acquired this mask when a relative passed away, and I was really curious as to what the mask was depicting and how it may have been used. She thinks it is from Bali, but I have no idea. Thank you for your time!  Zack, 683 A:  Your mother is right. It is a beat up Rangda mask that might actually be an antique.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Cululuk, a witch from Bali

    July 27, 2018

    Indonesian dance mask for the poor

    September 18, 2018

    Barong mask from Bali

    January 6, 2020
  • Mexico

    Cheap Mexican decorative

    September 9, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Can you tell me something about this triple head (man and some type of animals) mask.  Made of wood.  I don’t know anything about it but need to sell it and want to say the truth about the mask.  Thanks,  Tina, 682 A:  About 40 years ago I bought my first mask. It was an inexpensive but very colorful piece that was made by the same group of carvers in Guerrero, Mexico, that made yours.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Old Huave mask from Oaxaca

    September 12, 2015

    Authentic Mexican devil mask

    May 20, 2020

    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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