• 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

    Mexican decoratives can fool you

    June 16, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  A friend of mine purchased this mask for me at a flea market. I believe it’s a Balinese mask but I have no idea what kind or what it represents or would be used for. I would like to find out this information if possible. Can you help?  Jack, 650 A: You have a double-faced Mexican tourist mask probably made in Guerrero.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    La Puta mask from Naolinco, Veracruz

    July 14, 2017

    Master carver of the Sierra de Puebla

    March 23, 2015

    Mexican clay mask? Decorative or not?

    December 15, 2017
  • India & Himalayas

    Beautiful mask from Bhutan

    June 12, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  I know almost nothing about the Yama – I won it at an auction for very little. Aaron, 649 A:  Bhutan is able to support the art of fine mask-making, perhaps because it’s such a costly place to visit and the tourists have plenty of money to spend. This mask of Yama, Lord of the Underworld, is a beautiful example of what can still be purchased in that remote Himalayan country.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    How do you find out about Indian masks?

    September 29, 2013

    Old mask from India or Thailand?

    November 12, 2018

    A Magic Dragon from the Himalayans

    July 30, 2014
  • East Asia

    The Dayak people’s favorite

    June 11, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  I found this mask in a Chinese junk shop in Miri Borneo. I believe it to be pretty old but don’t know the story behind it. What or who does this represent. 16″ H, 11″ W.  Scott, 647 A:  It is from Borneo and is called a Hudoq mask.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Angry old Japanese man

    April 9, 2019

    Maori design on masks and tattoos

    April 1, 2014

    Japanese Kyogen mask

    February 24, 2018
  • Africa

    Unusual Lipiko helmet mask

    June 6, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  You may remember me – I sold you the field-collected yellow Makonde mask from Mandela, Mozambique. (I did my fieldwork among the Makonde in 2004)  I think the Makonde mask with mustache and blue skull cap is pretty interesting and wonder if you have additional photos of it. Is it yours?  I’d love to know more about it, and see more views of it.  Thanks, Alex A: I will send you more photos.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Rare Samo helmet mask

    April 29, 2017

    Mystery mask from the DRC

    October 1, 2019

    Suku helmet mask from Africa

    May 6, 2019
  • Caribbean

    Brunca Devil mask

    June 5, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  This mask is from Rey Curre which has a little different style of carving than the carvers from Boruca village. Rey Curre carvers tend to stick with the older, traditional style masks. The villages are just a few miles apart.  It is danced and battle worn from the ceremonies.  Tom, 645 A:  Thanks for sharing this unusual Brunca mask with us.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Masks of the World Presents: The Authentic Boruca Collection!

    September 22, 2023

    3 Vejigantes from Puerto Rico

    August 23, 2017

    Panama Diablo mask

    December 28, 2016
  • India & Himalayas

    A smile from the Himalayas

    June 2, 2014 / 4 Comments

    Q:  i bought this mask at a thrift shop in victoria bc. Thought it was westcoast carving, then looked online and it seems to fit with the monpa primitive theme. Saw a similar one that was nicknamed ‘joker’ on the zemanek site. Is it monpa and what sort of age would it be. It has a red wax seal or stamp in it   Walter, 644 A:  It is a primitive Himalayan mask.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Not sure it is a Hanuman mask

    July 15, 2013

    Indian mystery mask

    June 22, 2017

    Old mask from Himachal, India

    May 6, 2020
  • Mexico

    The dreaded Jaguar

    May 23, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  (From a small museum) We have this wooden mask with no information on it, and no real leads on where to look. The mask is an orange face with black spots all over it, with it’s brow and mouth region protruding out. It’s about 8″ tall and has what appears to be some form of leather with a few traces of animal hair nailed in with tiny nails above its’ eyes and mouth almost like eyebrows and a mustache. Inside the mouth on the upper part are four holes that look like they used to hold some kind of makeshift teeth in them.  Dani, 643 A:  Maybe it’s a…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    A poor mans Paragueros

    February 19, 2014

    Hammered sheet metal decorative

    November 21, 2015

    Rare Mexican performance mask

    February 5, 2016
  • Mexico

    Beware of barking dog

    May 21, 2014 / No Comments

    Q:  Good day, Bob. Thank you for the given opportunity to find out more about masks. There is a mask carved from the wood 10.5″ high, 9.5″ diameter of the top, and 6.5″ is a diameter of the teeth part.  Igor, 642 A:  I’m going to guess this is a wolf or dog mask from Mexico.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Maranquilla mask for Carnaval

    March 9, 2018

    One of many classic Tigres

    March 11, 2015

    Very old mask? Maybe.

    March 3, 2015
  • East Asia,  India & Himalayas

    Beautiful Buddha

    May 15, 2014 / 2 Comments

    Q:  I’ve had this and another very similar mask for some 15yrs. They were found in a skip! 18″ tall 11″ wide and made I think of balsa, they are very light anyway and feel furry. I have seen Balinese masks similar but very rough in comparison. Where do you think they are from and what age? The faces were bright white but years of hanging in my Scottish cottage with smoky wood burner has given them a ‘mature patina’ Ha ha!  Al, 641 A:  This is a sculpture of the Buddha, not a mask.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Chinese Nuo Opera mask

    April 24, 2020

    Japan’s most popular mask

    December 4, 2014

    Japanese mask with long nose

    September 28, 2018
  • Mexico

    A carver with his own unique style

    May 13, 2014 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Hey Bob. I figure this one’s a fake, just thought I’d run it by you to see what you think or what style it looks like. It appears to be wood, 11 1/2 inches by 6, with horns on the face. Found it in an antique store a while ago and thought it looked cool. Thanks.  Matt, 640 A:  You wrote to the right guy. The Mask Man considers Mexican decoratives to be different from traditional dance masks, but equally valid as art.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Hard to identify Mexican mask

    January 29, 2017

    Mexican dog mask

    February 17, 2017

    Mexican mask with interesting history

    August 5, 2018
121122123124125


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 ©