Q: I found this mask at an estate sale in my neighborhood and was told it was Balinese but I am now wondering if it could be Mexican as I know there are traditions of Mexican ceremonies in which participants wear masks caved like old men. The mask has attached hair which feels like horse or ox hair. I would appreciate any additional knowledge you may have. Jack, 695 A: Jack, you’re on the right track.
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Bird mask from Indonesia
Q: I have just purchased this mask because I like it. It cost me £50. Have you any ideas about age and origin. Kevin, 694 A: Your Javanese bird mask has a pleasant, old, used look to it. Similar bird masks are also made in Bali.
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Timor has many styles
Q: We bought this mask in Ubud, Bali. It is supposed to be from Timor. Could you please confirm? Thanks, Hugo (Paris, France), 693 A: Timor is 700 miles east of Bali which is a huge market for masks, even from other areas of the world. So it is not surprising that you would find this unusual mask there.
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Big, beautiful croc
Q: I have what I think is a Bwa/Bobo crocodile mask that I was told was about 80 years old, from Burkina Faso. I was wondering if I could send you a few photos of it to see what you might be able to tell me. The closest thing I could find on the web was this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fine-Old-African-Tribal-Mask-Nuna-Bobo-Crocodile-Mask-Burkina-Faso-3-1-2-feet-/321188759293. Many thanks. Laurie, 692 A: That is such a handsome mask, and it is more attractive than the one on eBay. The seller wrote a good description so I’m going to share it with our readers.
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A charming old carving
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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Unusual yam mask
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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Show stopper from Guerrero
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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I call this Caribbean
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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High-end Mexican mask
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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A different kind of devil
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…
