• Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • About
  • Contact
Masks of the World

  • Home
  • Blog Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • Masks
  • Blog About
  • Home
  • Blog Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • Masks
  • Blog About
  • Mexico

    Good reading

    August 15, 2014 / No Comments

      MexicanDanceMasks.com will take you to a new blog by Bryan Stevens, a well-respected collector and author. Bryan collects masks from all over Mexico, but his wonderful book, Mexican Masks and Puppets, concentrates on folk art from the Sierra de Puebla mountains that run through the states of Puebla and Vera Cruz in Eastern Mexico. I think some of you will really enjoy this new blog because it is so different from the one you are reading now. MasksoftheWorld.com is about all of the cultures of the world and Bryan’s new blog focuses on just Mexico. Therefore, Mexicandancemasks.com digs much deeper into the art and culture of a people. If…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Decorative Day-of-the-Dead mask

    May 16, 2020

    Interesting Indian portrait

    January 25, 2017

    Rare Mexican performance mask

    February 5, 2016
  • Guatemala

    Children will like this

    August 14, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Hello,  I have attached a mask of what I believe to be a deer but not sure. Perhaps you could tell me a little about it.  Dustin, 669 A:  It is a deer. In Guatemala the people of Mayan decent have several masked dances that feature deers.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Repro of Patron mask from Guatemala

    January 13, 2018

    Sad Tecun Uman mask

    December 13, 2016

    Old Guatemalan mask

    April 14, 2018
  • South America

    A very toothy grin

    August 7, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Appreciate your opinion. Would this mask be Tlingit?  Jack, 668 A:  No.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Ticuna Indian ceremonial mask

    June 21, 2015

    Amazon Indian spirit mask

    February 21, 2016

    Diablada mask from Ecuador

    January 8, 2017
  • Unknown

    Here is a real mystery

    August 4, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  I’ve picked up two masks recently. One is really unusual. It looks carved but almost like another skin substance has been placed over the face. It has corn type hair and big teeth. Pretty weird stuff.  Eileen, 667 A:  Far out!

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Another mystery mask

    November 26, 2019

    Another Mexican Devil mask

    February 27, 2017

    Don Juan the maskmaker

    August 11, 2018
  • India & Himalayas

    Deformity masks heal the sick

    August 2, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  I found this at a thrift shop in Boca Raton. So it is likely completely out of context. They didn’t want much for it, so I bought it, but I can’t really figure out where it is from? It is very small, more of a decorative carving at 6″ X 4″.  Rick, A:  You found an exorcism mask from Sri Lanka.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    A mystery animal

    April 30, 2015

    Unique mask from Tibet

    October 1, 2013

    Chhau mask from Purulia, India

    February 25, 2019
  • India & Himalayas

    Unusual carved wood bird

    July 30, 2014 / 4 Comments

    Q:  Thanks again for doing that quick assessment for us here. I’m not sure what will happen with the masks, but your information is extremely helpful in deciding. I have another question if you wouldn’t mind. I now have one more mask. Is there anything you can tell me about this piece? I don’t intend to sell it. I just really liked it and am curious if I can learn anything about it.  Lynn, 665 I’m not sure about this one.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Primitive Himalayan mask

    March 18, 2020

    Bronze helmet mask from where?

    November 13, 2019

    Sri Lankan mystery demon

    February 21, 2017
  • India & Himalayas

    A Magic Dragon from the Himalayans

    July 30, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Here is the Bhutan dragon mask I bought a couple of years ago. It is about a foot long. The black strap you see in the photo I added and the mask sits more on top of your head then in front of it. I have seen this of other photos of Bhutanese mask wearers. Also you see through the mouth of the mask because is sits on your fore head and just in front of your eyes. It is an Asian style dragon that has the branched horns and thin white whiskers, but what is cool is the typical mustache that many Bhutanese men wear.  Ray, 664 A: …

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Himalayan shaman’s mask

    June 7, 2018

    Garuda mask from India or the Himalayas

    February 28, 2020

    Tribal mask from Nepal Middle Hills

    September 7, 2017
  • Europe

    Believe it or not

    July 21, 2014 / 3 Comments

    Q:  I just got back from the U.K., and there was an amazing medieval executioner’s mask in the Tower of London, but it was black on a black background with glass in front and very low light, so I wasn’t able to get a good photo (tripod would have been impossible because of the massive crowds of people). But someone got a relatively good shot of it and posted it, so here it is.  Aaron, 663 A:  The world of masquerade can be a wild and crazy place.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Ntanos Blast Mask

    January 30, 2018

    Another interesting Buso

    October 21, 2016

    Masquerade in Switzerland and Germany

    February 9, 2017
  • East Asia

    Old monkey mask from SW China

    July 20, 2014 / No Comments

    Every so often I plan to repeat one of my favorite masks posted years back. This one is a Nuo monkey mask from Jinguan village, Anshun district, Guizhou provincial territory. It’s an 8.3 inch thin carving with a sturdy native repair. The old Nuo mask was obviously used for a great many years and the wear has resulted in a wonderful patina. The monkey’s face is portrayed with deftly carved lines and each eye is highlighted with a  metal tack. In my opinion– Chinese folk art at its best. Masks like this are becoming hard to find.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    The best Noh masks are carved wood

    August 21, 2013

    Japanese Namahage mask

    March 16, 2019

    The Dayak people’s favorite

    June 11, 2014
  • Mexico

    Where did the snakes come from?

    July 17, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  I just found this mask at an estate sale.  I have no information about it and cannot find anything similar online. I’m speculating that it is old and authentic. Any information would be immensely helpful in appraising it.   Lori, 661 A:  It is common for people to speculate that a carved wood mask may have considerable monetary value.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Our enemy, the powder post beetle

    December 15, 2013

    My first mask

    May 16, 2017

    A poor mans Paragueros

    February 19, 2014
119120121122123


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.

Archives

Masks of the World - 2025 ©