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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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    Noh masks can change expression

    February 15, 2018

    Hawaiian warrior’s mask

    June 9, 2015

    Emit mask from Thailand

    July 2, 2014
  • 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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    Mongolian Buddhist mask

    August 27, 2018

    Khon mask for Thai dancers

    February 9, 2016

    A charming old carving

    October 20, 2014
  • 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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    Routine Mexican Devil

    November 12, 2014

    Day of the Dead mask

    January 17, 2015

    Decorative fish mask from Mexico

    October 20, 2018
  • 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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    Boruca mask in need of fix up

    December 27, 2014

    Woven Indian mask from Panama

    February 23, 2020

    Junkanoo mask from the Bahamas

    July 23, 2018
  • 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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    Storing masks can be fun

    September 20, 2016

    Mexican or Guatemalan clay mask?

    September 15, 2017

    Tlacololero mask from Guerrero, Mexico

    June 30, 2017
  • 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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    Nice souvenir of Mexico

    May 10, 2014

    Hard to identify Mexican mask

    January 29, 2017

    Decorative Day-of-the-Dead mask

    May 16, 2020
  • 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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    Reproductions of African masks can be collectible

    September 23, 2018

    Interesting but unusual

    July 16, 2014

    Primitive mask from the Congo

    November 23, 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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    Blended mask from West Africa

    October 29, 2017

    Kota reliquaries are often in mask collections

    March 2, 2019

    Ville or Yombe from the DRC

    February 25, 2018
  • 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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    Mask carving in Bali

    August 21, 2014

    Another unusual Balinese mask

    February 21, 2018

    Garuda mask from Bali

    May 23, 2016
  • 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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    The big bearded Mexican

    March 5, 2017

    One of many classic Tigres

    March 11, 2015

    Day of the Dead masks from Mexico

    October 20, 2017
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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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