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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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    Interesting mystery mask

    May 6, 2018

    Bulbous-nosed Asian mask

    May 25, 2020

    Oceanic Mask?

    November 15, 2021
  • 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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    Guere-Wobe

    Fine mask and a poem

    November 20, 2013

    Authentic or reproduction

    April 29, 2016

    Puno maiden spirit mask

    January 22, 2019
  • 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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    2 masks from Kings Island

    July 17, 2020

    Indian seal mask– maybe

    April 8, 2014

    Iroquois False Face Society mask

    January 4, 2017
  • 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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    Mwana Ngulu mask from the Chokwe people

    April 9, 2018

    Male version of Chi Wara headdress

    June 30, 2017

    Male and female Kifwebe masks from Africa

    March 23, 2020
  • 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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    To collect or not to collect

    January 11, 2015

    Decorative masks can be fun

    February 7, 2016

    Baule mask, authentic or repro

    October 10, 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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    A Thai hermit mask rarely seen

    February 11, 2017

    Samurai metal face mask

    May 8, 2018

    Japanese fox mask with moving jaw

    September 19, 2018
  • 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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    Shaman’s mask from the Far North

    September 24, 2013

    Native American mask

    March 11, 2021

    Eskimo hunter’s mask

    October 12, 2020
  • 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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    Bedu mask from Ivory Coast

    April 13, 2019

    Let’s identify this strange mask

    December 30, 2013

    Probably from the Congo

    March 10, 2016
  • 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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    Kuba Bwoom mask from the DRC

    May 19, 2018

    Pair of Chi Wara “masks”

    July 6, 2014

    Big Bedu plank mask

    February 27, 2019
  • 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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    Chane Indians from NW Argentina

    March 18, 2016

    Tikuna Animal Mask

    June 21, 2021

    Metal monkey mask from Bolivia

    May 26, 2019
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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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