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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Beautiful mask from Bhutan
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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The Dayak people’s favorite
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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Unusual Lipiko helmet mask
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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Brunca Devil mask
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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A smile from the Himalayas
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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The dreaded Jaguar
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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Beware of barking dog
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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Beautiful Buddha
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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A carver with his own unique style
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.
