If you go to this Pinterest site you’ll see over a 100 different Bozo masks from Mali and Burkina Fasso that have been worn in culture. You can still find these colorful artifacts selling for a few hundred dollars. An authentic mask from a more famous tribe in West Africa will cost many thousands. Those brown, old looking masks you see all over the place almost always are fake reproductions. Wikipedia says: The Bozo are a West African ethnic group located predominantly along the Niger River in Mali. The name Bozo is thought to derive from Bambara bo-so “straw house”; the people accept it as referring to the whole of…
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Romanian traditional mask
This Romanian ritualistic mask from Moldova always has an unique appearance of a big beard and long red nose. They’re used over a wide area, from the Banat to Moldavia and from Oltenia to Maramures. The dances are considered the most picturesque events and tourists love them. They are a meaningful component of the folk customs celebrated in villages for the coming of the New Year, funerals, agricultural and hunting rituals.These dances originate from the pre-Christian times when the never ending struggle between good and evil had an impact on everyone. After Dan got his excellent German mask for so little money, I took a look at some other European…
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Witch mask from Germany
Q: This isn’t a mystery mask, but I thought it was a nice find for $27. It’s a German Hexe mask, I believe from Offenburg. The mask itself is about 13″H and it has an attached scarf, which drapes over a wire frame that’s attached to the mask. Dan, 1341 At the beginning of the thirties the first witches appeared in the organized Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet. They were the Offenburg witches, who were officially founded on Epiphany in 1936. Unlike the rather deliberate fool, the witch is a figure with whom one can do a lot. Witches are free, they can climb, can make Radau, build pyramids and annoy the spectators.…
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New mask from Michoacan
This is a recently made Mexican mask that most collectors would want. I believe it is either a Hermit or a Moor from somewhere in the state of Michoacan. The carver is very talented so one of our visitors might be able to tell us his name and village. New masks are more affordable than used ones.
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Old Guatemalan mask
Here is an old conquistador dance mask that hasn’t been used a lot. Expressively carved from hardwood, the eyebrows, eyelashes, hair and upper lip show remnants of black paint, while the teeth have traces of white. His wavy side-parted hair and long sideburns were characteristic of the Spaniards depicted in these dances. His glass eyes are now missing. There is no morreria mark that I can see. I still like it!
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Puerto Rican art mask
This is a beautifully papier mache Vejigante mask that is too expensive to wear in a Ponce or San Juan carnival. It’s made for serious mask and art collectors. From an anthropological standpoint it certainly demonstrates the wonderful influence African culture had on modern Caribbean foik art. Please enlarge and look at the detail. v
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Special Mahakala mask from Himalayas
Q: I purchased this mask 20 years ago in an antique shop here in Portugal. I have taken good care of it, it looks +/- as it did at the time of purchase. It has a seal on the inside. The gold paint has been painted over what used to be yellow. I was under the impression it was a Thai mask but after checking your website I believe it might be Balinese? Duarte, 1337 A: Mahakalas come in many styles. This larger one with its mustache and other interesting details is not like any I have seen before. It may have been used in culture because no attempt at…
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Chhau mask needs headdress
Q: Here is one of the Chhau masks Karen gave me, sans headpiece or crown. Would appreciate anyone giving me an idea of how I can get a headpiece for the mask. Thanks, Mickey 1336 A: Purulia, India, has a rich folk culture and is the birth place of the martial arts dance of Bengal called Chhau. In this tradition the dancers are men that are usually armed. This character is supposed to be a woman who would wear something pretty on her head. This missing headpiece could be purchased in India, but that is something I know nothing about? The cover photo of my book, Masks of the World,…
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Protest masks
I like ethnographic masks from all over the world; also protest, protective, steampunk and sex. You can go thru our archives and see just about everything. In my book, Masks of the World, non-ethnographic masks are covered in pages 166-180. Today we have a Guy Fawkes mask (and another one) used for protests. Not shown are the many masks that portray political personalities. Using masks to cover the face helps protestors in many countries avoid arrest, jail, and even worse. Follow this link to learn more about Guy Fawkes.
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Mwana Ngulu mask from the Chokwe people
Q: Q: I recently purchased this mask at an auction on Catawiki. I like it very much but I am not sure how genuine it is. Maybe you can help me with your knowledge. I do know it is a Ngulu Boar/Pig Mask and recent. Duarte, 1334 A: The mask is made of wood and painted with brown and black kaolin.The mane is made of strips of curled black fabric. It represents a domesticated pig that performs tricks. These masks are used during magical dance rituals in which the dancer is on all fours. The Chokwe can be found in Angola and the DRC. This mask is a nice reproduction.…
