Every second year, there is a gathering of villagers each having their own tradition and sets of masks. Dedougou, a small city located in the west of Burkina Faso, hosts the largest international art and mask festival. In 2016, its 20th anniversary, you could see masks from around 50 different villages all over Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin. For thousand of years there have been animist belief around in West Africa, in which masks play a central role, especially for remembrance rituals symbolizing the rhythm of life. They are made from textile, straw, wood and leaves for the worship of spirits and ancestors. According to traditional…
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New Guinea wood carving
Q: I recently acquired a PNG yam ceremony carving from the Netherlander and remembered that you had a yam god mask posted on your website. Maybe you are not interested in carvings but I figure I will share them with you and as always, I’m very interested in hearing your opinions. Photos are stock, carvings are currently in transit. David, 1376 A: Your carving is certainly from Papua New Guinea and a very handsome piece of folk art. I’ve never seen a yam mask this long and narrow. How tall is it? What is that little knob for on the bottom? Perhaps you can find someone who specializes in PNG or oceanic…
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Authenticity is always a challenge
This red and green wooden mask comes from Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico. The mask belongs to the Ruth Lechuga collection, so we know it is authentic. It was probably made by the Nahua people. These kind of Mexican masks often have insects or small animals on them. They are very entertaining. The second one also looks like an old Nahua mask, but there seems to be a hint of darkened varnish coating it. Many of these masks have been made for tourists who like the old. I can’t be sure. What do you think?
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Dayak shaman’s mask from Borneo
Unlike the red, white and black Hudok masks with their long beaks and wings, the shamans’ come in different colors and designs. They can also be rather plain with little or no color.The Iban people are one branch of the Dayak tribe of Borneo. Another large group is the Bidayu culture which occupy the region of Sarawak. Actually, the second photo is a hunters mask. You can see more Borneo masks, including the famous Hudok, in our “Oceanic” category.
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Terrific Mexican mask
Q: Attached are three pictures of a mask I recently purchased at a country auction in Massachusetts. It is made of wood, with paint and some sort of old repair. Any information would be very much appreciated! Nick, 1373 A: Nick, you have made my day. Your photography is excellent. Most people who buy a mask at a local auction or thrift store don’t get something of this high value. It’s a very old Moor mask, but I can’t identify the state or ethnic group. Who has ever seen tiny, little round eyes underneath big eye holes. I also love the startling look of the face on this enemy of…
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Ancient Greek theater mask
Education— It could be over 2000 years old. Made of fired clay, it was found in pieces but has been repaired. I don’t think we can find any western European masks that are older. Do you enjoy seeing ancient masks? Read books and visit museums. Careful reproductions can be purchased on the internet for reasonable prices. Identification— Most of the photos I receive are from people who know very little about masks and need more information. Also, there are collectors and dealers who specialize and occasionally stumble on a mystery mask that is not in their field of expertise. Value— People want to know how much their new mask is…
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Caiman mask from Guererro, Mexico
Q: I would like to purchase this wooden mask, but I’m unaware of its origins. The owner has a large collection of masks, and couldn’t remember where he picked this one up. He suggested it was either Indonesian or Japanese, though it looks more like an African mask to me. The mask seems to have been made for a child. Paul, 1371 A: This cool little Mexican decorative (tourist mask) is something I would be glad to add my collection, I think, but I wish your photos were better. You can learn more about the famous caiman mask by referring to Mexican Masks by Donald Cordry on page 200. Unlike…
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Dogon kanaga mask from Mali
This is what the Metropolitan has to say about a similar mask… “One of the most popular types of masks in the Sanga region is the type known as kanaga. Like other Dogon masks, kanaga masks are worn at rituals called dama, whose goal is to transport the souls of deceased family members away from the village and to enhance the prestige of the deceased and his descendants by magnificent masked performances and generous displays of hospitality.” “In 1935, French anthropologist Marcel Griaule witnessed a dama ritual in which twenty-nine out of a total of seventy-four masks were of the kanaga type. These masks are characterized by a wooden superstructure…
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The only Micronesian mask
Masks are very rare in Micronesia. Traditionally they are only found on the Satawan Atoll in the Mortlock group of islands. (Melanesia and Indonesia have thousands of different masks.) This typical example is made of breadfruit wood painted white using lime and black using soot. This wood mask has narrow eye-slits and a plaited coconut fiber cord for securing it to the wearer’s head. It is over 100 years old. Such masks represented an ancestor. They were used as ornaments in the ceremonial house and sometimes in boat houses. The ceremonial house was the location of performances by members of a secret society, in which the god of wind was…
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Diablo from Oaxaca, Mexico
I could not resist sharing this photo of an old Oaxacan mask with you. It has so much character, despite it’s rough appearance. Devils can’t be nastier than this one! Located on the edge of the Pacific in southern Mexico, the state is rich with many kinds of wonderful masks. Part of the reason is there are many ethnic groups (Mixtec, Zapotec, Chatino, Negro, Huave, Chontal) in the area. More info is needed. What part of Oaxaca does it come from? A
