Q: I bought those 2 masks 10 years ago in Mamoiada, Sardegna. These are the 2 characters of this traditional carnival, the Mamuthones and the Issohadores. The masks are new. The procession itself is almost hypnotic, it is worth the trip, unfortunately in the winter, end January till early February. I just sent you these masks, because I did not see them in your book, I recently bought on Amazon. Jean, 1418 A: Only the black mask is shown, not the brown one. I try to limit the blog to just one mask. Carnivals in the island of Sardinia are a bit different from those in other parts of Italy…
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Bamun mask from the Grasslands
Q: Can you help me identify this wood carved mask. The mask is about 13-1/2” at the widest part and 19” in height from chin to top of head. My uncle purchased it from an artist in Honolulu in 1990. Ben, 1416 A: The masks comes from an important area that has distinctive masks and other folk art. The Grasslands of Cameroon are composed of three ethnic groups with ancestors in common. There are the one million Bamileke spread over the southwestern plateaus, in communities that have from 50,000 to 100,000 people; the 500,000 Bamenda-Tikar in the north; and, finally, the Bamum in the northwest, with a population of…
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Presentational Javanese mask
Q: This well-carved mask has a strong aura to it. My friend said that he had to take it out of his office because of it’s effect on people. What kind of ritual was it used for? Thanks in advance. Cha, 1415 A: It is well carved, but then not painted, which is not traditional for a Topeng character mask from Java, Indonesia. The most unusual thing about this item is the carved seal on the back. I wish someone would comment on its origin. I assume the lettering is in Malay. My guess is it was made to be a nice gift for an important person. It could…
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Don Juan the maskmaker
Mexico lost a great artist when Juan Horta Castillo, perhaps Mexico’s finest mask maker in recent years, passed away of a heart attack in 2006. He was one of the principal and most sought-after carvers from the famed mask-making village of Tocuaro, Michoacán. He won the national mask contest several times and traveled extensively demonstrating his skills. His sons now carry on his tradition and have made a name for themselves in the art of mask making. The decorative mask we have here is actually piece of fine art sculpture. Don Juan made it for collectors, not to be used in a dance. As I said recently in the blog…
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Kobeua Indian body mask from Amazon
Here is one of my favorite masks from the huge Amazon basin. It is old and used, but you can still find newer ones that are more colorful and have arms that are longer and more colorful. Made of bark cloth and raffia, they are meant to cover the full body. This costume plays an important role in the Kobeua’s initiation ceremony. Indians were among the first to come into contact with the European colonists when they landed in Brazil in 1500. The indigenous population was largely killed by European diseases, declining from a pre-Columbian high of millions to some 300,000 grouped into 200 tribes. However, the number could be…
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Should I buy this mask?
Q: What do you think about this mask, which is proposed to me for sale? It looks very nice, but I wonder if it is really as old as it is announced to be (early 20th)? Jean, 1412 A: Hope I’m not to late in answering you. Do buy it if you think the price is right. It is old and used. More over, it is well carved and very attractive.The number on the rear would have been carved at a morreria (costume shop). Very collectible. For those who aren’t familiar with this Guatemalan mask, it could represent either a Moro or a Vaquero in several different dances. There are…
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Mexican mask with interesting history
Q: I believe this mask I have is merely decorative in value. Some of the Mexican masks that were collected at the same time as this one have references to a book written by Donald Cordry. I have 9 of them, 8 of which are double-headed. Eric, 1411 A: Cordry is famous to Mexican mask collectors. He wrote an important book, Mexican Masks– published in 1980. It was read by thousands all over the world, and for a few years was the bible for students and collectors. When he died at his vacation home in Guerrero, his collection was given to an art museum in the Southwest. Later we find…
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Repainted Guatemalan mask
Q: Attached is an unusual Guatemalan mask of a Cristiano from the dance of the Moors and Christians in Coban, Alta Verapaz. It looks quite similar to the yellow one posted on your site some years ago (7.4.2015), except the color is different. Jean, 1410 A: Please go to the Guatemalan category so you can see the yellow mask Jean is referring to. Both masks are similar. Jean’s mask is a better carving. When you look at the rear you know that it is old, used, and more recently painted red over the original yellow so it can be used as a Moor in the dance. Morrerias (rental shops) will…
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Mexican mask collection
Here is a medium-sized collection of masks from all over Mexico. There are 94 of them representing 15 states out of 31. Most are carved wood, and some are papier mache, leather, metal and fired clay. Few of them have much age. Old masks are rare, because rough usage and climate take their toll. Only one is not painted, which means it was made strictly for tourists. You won’t see collections like this in museums. It includes authentic (used in culture), plus new ones that could be used and decoratives for tourists and export. Curators and serious collectors don’t like to see this a mix like this. I disagree. Many…
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Yao shaman’s mask
There’s a Yao mask in our archives, but this one is old, used and a bit more interesting. It would have been used by a priest or shaman to frighten away evil spirits. The Yao are a large indigenous culture that is in the mountains of southern China, Laos and Vietnam. They are one of the larger ethnic minorities in the area. 1408
