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  • South America

    Tikuna Animal Mask

    June 21, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q: I am hoping that you might be able to help me identify this mask and shed some light about it’s origin/provenance/significance. My parents collected mostly African and Asian masks/statues and I consider myself to be (moderately) good at placing origin/regions, but this one completely stumps me.

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    Troy

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    Indian mask from the Amazon

    May 10, 2017

    Classic mask from the Amazon

    January 6, 2014

    This is a South American mask

    September 4, 2018
  • Unknown

    A Mystery Mask

    June 16, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  I am a collector of Roman and Greek archaeological finds. A few days ago for my birthday they gave me this mask. I just don’t know about masks and I don’t know what culture or era it can go back to. It is about 6 cm long. Unfortunately, I can’t even understand what material it is made of. It could be lead. Alex

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    Troy

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    Very puzzling

    May 7, 2016

    Decor items vs. artifacts

    November 23, 2017

    Boolean version of African mask

    February 4, 2018
  • South America

    Piaroa-Huarime character mask

    March 11, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  I know this mask is from the Amazon. Alma, 1830 A:  It would help to know from whom, when and where you got it; and how much you bought it for. These Amazon Indians live on the Orinoko River between Colombia and Venezuela. They’re unusual looking masks are made of blackened beeswax which has been caved and colored with white clay. The base and fabric are also of natural materials found in the surrounding jungle. I don’t know who this character represents, but it was made to be used used in ceremony or sold to exploring tourists. There are many different masks depicting gods and animals as well. Some…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Is this a Brazilian mask?

    September 7, 2018

    World traveling mask

    August 31, 2014

    Peruvian Diablo mask

    June 27, 2018
  • Native America

    Native American mask

    March 11, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Would you happen to know where this originated and if it is valuable enough to be appraised?  My deceased cousin traveled the world for years, and this is one of her treasures.    Beverly, 1829 A:   It is Iroquois in style,  made in the USA,  and maybe  worth enough to be  appraised.  All  kinds of  people  love  to  see  Native  American  masks  on  the  walls  of  their  cabins  and  rec rooms.  The  value  can  go  up  according  to  signature,  date  and  condition.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Indian seal mask– maybe

    April 8, 2014

    Koskimo wearing a Hami mask

    September 16, 2015

    Unidentified Eskimo mask

    January 18, 2017
  • Mexico

    Mexican mask with pointed cap?

    March 2, 2021 / 5 Comments

      Q:  I bought this mask at a online auction here in Switzerland. It was declared as antique Tyrolean mask. For me it looked more like Mexican? It is made of very light weight wood and rather small. The size is 43 cm x 14 cm. Thank you very much for your help. Kind regards from Zurich.  David, 1827A: This  mask looks  more  Mexican  to  me  as  well, though I can’t be sure. I haven’t seen a mascara with this kind of cap before. I hope some viewer will make a comment.  

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    Bob Ibold

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    A poor mans Paragueros

    February 19, 2014

    Mexican creativity continued

    June 4, 2016

    Specialized mask collecting

    October 31, 2014
  • Misc

    Rare stingray mask?

    February 26, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  A friend gave me this mask when she was moving as I have always admired it.   It fits on top of your head rather than over the face.  It is about 21 inches long by 12 inches wide.  It looks like a manta or sting ray.  Any info?   Brad A:  I’m finally back to posting mystery masks. Yours is going to be difficult. I have never seen a stingray mask in my 50-year career of collecting. It is probably from someplace on the Atlantic Coast of West Africa. It seems to be new and and made for the tourist trade. But I can see in a river ceremony…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Real masks vs. decorative carvings

    May 7, 2018

    Rare animal mask from Panama

    December 23, 2019

    Part 2: A Closer Look at the Masks of the Bolivian Museum of Ethnography and Folklore’s

    March 6, 2025
  • Bali & Java

    Repro of metal mask from Java

    February 1, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Mask made of metal for you to look at. Any feedback information about this mask will be helpful. Thanks, Ezra.  1825 A:  This is also a nice reproduction of a Javanese mask. Like the previous Indian mask, it is something most collectors (like me) would want to keep. Of course, you should not pay a lot of money for it.  B-

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    Bob Ibold

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    Subali the monkey king

    January 6, 2017

    Early Balinese mask

    July 25, 2015

    Character mask from rural Java

    December 4, 2019
  • India & Himalayas

    Repro of old India mask

    February 1, 2021 / No Comments

      Q:  I recently bought this mask (or wall art) from a auction and I don’t know anything about it. It looks old. If you could tell me who it is supposed to be and what region it comes from I would be pleased.  John, 1824 A:  You made a good find, if you didn’t pay too much. It is highly detailed and very entertaining. I think it is Indian, but am not sure. Let’s hope some of our viewers can help us with that. What I can tell you is that it was made by a talented carver for commercial  purposes. This kind of business now is growing all…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Contempororary Kali masks from India

    June 4, 2020

    Colorful Mahakala from the Himalayas

    June 30, 2016

    Help identify a mask. India?

    December 7, 2018
  • Misc

    Mask for the Ijaw water spirit

    January 22, 2021 / No Comments

    The Ijaw are a large ethnic group of about 14 million people in the delta region of Nigeria, West Africa. Traditional religious practices center around “Water spirits” in the Niger river, and around tribute to ancestors. Although the Ijaw are now practicing Catholicism, Anglicanism and Pentecostal , they also have elaborate traditional religious practices of their own. Veneration of ancestors plays a central role in Ijaw traditional religion, while water spirits, known as Owuamapu figure prominently in the Ijaw pantheon. In addition, the Ijaw practice a form of divination called Igbadai, in which recently deceased individuals are interrogated on the causes of their death. Ijaw religious beliefs hold that water spirits are like humans in having personal strengths and…

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    Bob Ibold

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    The famous Guy Fawkes mask

    August 4, 2017

    Celebrity mask we all recognize

    February 23, 2016

    Masks as art

    April 26, 2020
  • Guatemala

    The basic Guatemalan mask

    January 18, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Q:  Will you share this mask with your viewers?  It’s an old Guatemalan mask, probably from late XIXth or early XXth century. This is suggested by the beautiful dark patina on the back with smooth edges, a kind of patina typical of old dense hardwood, here probably cedar. So different from the back of artificially aged recent masks. Another characteristic is the aspect of shelves of the carving of the back, found on very old masks only. It was probably a female character, suggested by the holes for earrings. Nevertheless, the same face could be used as male character, as it has been recently confirmed to me by Don Nery…

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    Bob Ibold

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    Yellow Guatemalan mask

    April 7, 2015

    Another New World Devil Mask

    June 12, 2017

    “Mexican” Guatemalan dance mask

    July 11, 2018
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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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