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  • Unknown

    The Mask Man is stumped again.

    December 8, 2013 / No Comments

    Q: I’ve attached some pictures of a mask that I purchased that I can’t identify. It has aspects of African influences as well as Polynesian. I’m most curious about the style of the mouth. It is made from a very light weight wood and looks to have been carved in a manner that it may have been actually danced and not made entirely for the tourist trade. Brian, 592 A: The character on this has mask has both a turtle and a coiled snake on his head.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Strange mask of natural materials

    September 22, 2015

    Another mystery mask

    March 19, 2019

    Mask made from a turtle shell

    November 12, 2017
  • Africa

    Be careful of this guy

    December 7, 2013 / 1 Comment

    Q: I found this online with no information about were its from and or if its just art or an actual old mask. I hope you can help me out. I’m intrigued by this mask. Best regards. Laurence, 591 A: This looks like a Yoruba style mask from Nigeria, West Africa, but because it is just a black and white, small, low-res photo, it would be unwise to assume more.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Unusual Bambara mask from Mali

    January 17, 2016

    Mystery Kuba mask from Central Africa

    December 2, 2019

    Turtle shell Bwami mask from Africa

    October 5, 2020
  • Native America

    Lawyers trying to stop another Hopi mask auction. Again.

    December 3, 2013 / 1 Comment

    Q: PARIS (AP) – The Native American Hopi tribe took a Paris auction house to court Tuesday to try to block the upcoming sale of 32 sacred tribal masks, arguing they are “bitterly opposed” to the use as merchandise of sacred objects that represent their ancestral spirits. The Katsinam masks are scheduled for sale at the Drouot auction house on Dec. 9 and 11, alongside an altar from the Zuni tribe. A. In the spring of this year a larger collection of Hopi Indian masks was auctioned off in Paris for over a million dollars.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Pacific Northwest of US and Canada

    July 1, 2017

    Inuit small stone mask

    February 15, 2016

    Bird masks from different cultures

    July 17, 2015
  • Africa

    A not so typical Dan mask

    December 2, 2013 / 2 Comments

    Q: Bought in Liberia in 1982 when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Was among several that I bought from one of three Mandingos who came to my house in the Gola tribe area (just north of Monrovia and the Vai tribe territory) to show their masks to a few of us PCVs. The sale of this one mask was suspicious, because the seller did not want his colleagues to know that he had it. Could have been a ruse, but he looked genuinely fearful of his colleagues. I don’t think that he was supposed to be selling it. Dimensions: 11.5″ x 7.5″ X 3.75″ Now that I’m in my…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Popular Salampasu mask from the DRC

    June 12, 2017

    A rough old African

    March 1, 2014

    Toma masquette from Liberia

    June 1, 2017
  • Africa

    Marka mask from Mali

    December 2, 2013 / No Comments

    Q: I have a collection of African old tribal masks which I took over from an old collector who for health reasons is unable to give much info. Here is one of many, I was thinking African, Mali possibly.  Natasha, 588 A: Sorry to take so long to answer.

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    Bob Ibold

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    3 Guro antelope masks from West Africa

    October 15, 2018

    Contemporary mask from Africa’s DRC

    September 17, 2019

    Baule portrait mask from Ivory Coast

    November 1, 2019
  • East Asia

    One of the great masks of the world

    November 24, 2013 / No Comments

    Q: (Part of an email that included several recently purchased masks.) The Baining mask is gigantic, about 5 feet tall from chin to top and maybe 3.5 feet long.  I have nowhere to put it, so it’s piled on my other masks.  I need a museum at this point.  Aaron, 587 A: Congratulations on your recent acquisitions.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Traditional Japanese Noh mask

    October 10, 2020

    Unusual yam mask

    October 18, 2014

    Japanese Noh demon

    May 12, 2015
  • Native America,  Unknown

    This will be a tough one

    November 22, 2013 / 1 Comment

    Q: American Indian or Eskimo? The wood is old and light like cedar. Please help!  David, 586 A: I took a look at as many North American indigenous mask as I could.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Indian seal mask– maybe

    April 8, 2014

    NWC raven mask, sort of

    May 29, 2015

    Navajo Mystery Mask… or?

    October 21, 2016
  • Guere-Wobe
    Africa

    Fine mask and a poem

    November 20, 2013 / No Comments

    Q: I wonder if its authentic and if it is a Dan Ngere?  Leon, 585  (Leon also sent along a poem about masks which you can read at the end of my comments.) A: The Dan group of tribes spread over parts of both Ivory Coast and Liberia.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Kuba Bwoom helmet mask

    April 29, 2015

    Beautiful Yaure mask from Africa

    October 21, 2017

    Special Dan mask from West Africa

    March 14, 2020
  • Africa

    Old big round mask

    November 19, 2013 / 2 Comments

    Q: I’m totally ignorant about masks, but my father found this in a garage here in Italy and now I would like some informations about it. I looked into your website for similar masks, but I haven’t found anything identical. Can you please tell me from which part of the world it comes? The dimensions are 60×50 (cm) and it’s made of wood.  Alexandru, 584 A: Being the Mask Man is a humbling experience.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Blind man’s mask

    November 7, 2014

    Chokwe Pwo mask from Central Africa

    March 5, 2020

    Kwere mask from Tanzania

    September 1, 2020
  • South America

    This guy has quite a nose

    November 16, 2013 / 2 Comments

    My characterization of the Peruvian mask as a Wapuri is just a guess. “Wapuri” is a character in the Bolivian Kullawada dance, which refers to a long-nosed European character. I am assuming that the Peruvian version is just a little different, but is used for similar purposes in similar dances.  I could be wrong.  Aaron, 583 A: I think you are correct.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Indian mask from South America

    March 31, 2017

    Ticuna Indian mask with full costume

    December 29, 2015

    Part 1: Bolivia’s Hidden Treasure – The Mask Museum Experience

    November 6, 2024
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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.

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