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  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Unique Mexican Devil Mask

    February 24, 2017

    Parachico mask from Southern Mexico

    April 7, 2018

    Black-faced mask from Mexico

    July 21, 2015
  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Black old man from Mongolia

    December 27, 2017

    7 masks from the Kuchipudi theater in India

    January 8, 2018

    Citipati mask from Arunachal Pradesh, India

    January 11, 2020
  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Chinese decorative art

    July 10, 2017

    Angry old Japanese man

    April 9, 2019

    Korean traditional character mask

    November 10, 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    A mask that changed the art world

    July 5, 2018

    Mumuye or Mambila animal mask

    November 7, 2016

    Dan/We/Guere mask that looks old

    February 5, 2018
  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Haitian masks are not expensive

    February 18, 2018

    Diablico Sucio carnival mask

    November 1, 2015

    Masks of the World Presents: The Authentic Boruca Collection!

    September 22, 2023
  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    I love delivering good news

    October 27, 2013

    Himalayan shaman’s mask

    June 7, 2018

    Hanuman the monkey god

    October 18, 2015
  • 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…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Diablo with lots of character

    September 24, 2015

    Another Mexican Devil mask

    February 27, 2017

    New Tarahumara mask

    August 9, 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Useful tourist mask

    February 27, 2020

    The famous Barbones mask

    March 18, 2014

    Catrin mask from Tlaxcala, Mexico

    December 4, 2020
  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Thai Hanneman mask

    August 20, 2020

    Royal official from Guizhou

    October 7, 2015

    Many Japanese masks are for display

    April 9, 2014
  • 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.

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    Bob Ibold

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    May 2, 2022

    6 Mexican Devil masks

    November 18, 2018

    Battle of the Tigres

    February 27, 2015
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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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