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.…
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Chewa mask from Malawi, Africa
Q: I’m now in Zambia and have to make a decision regarding what I should collect. There are some options, but the most outstanding ones right now are: spend time and collect original Chewa masks. The other option is to buy from tribal art dealers in Lusaka, which have connections in the Congo, combs and masks from different tribes in Angola, Congo and maybe Tanzania.What would you recommend? The Chewa masks would be original because I would buy them from the same people who use them. (I know it’s very difficult to buy them, but I already managed to buy some from Katete, Zambia, where there are also Chewa peoples). …
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Parachico mask from Southern Mexico
Q: I have recently bought this mask on the internet for about 40 USD. I am pretty sure that it is an unused Parachico mask from Chiapas, Mexico. One eyelash is missing. But I wonder about quality and age. I know nothing about Mexican masks. Can you or your visitors maybe estimate the level of quality and tell an approx age, given the style? Thanks, Chris 1382 A: You got this for a very good price. It is new. Most of the Santeros (professional carvers) make additional Parachicos for sale to tourists. Though it could have been made recently, this has been going for over a 100 years. Barbara Mauldin…
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Masks from Fiji
Janet King on Pinterist has only this to say about the older mask: the Fijian people are the least talented mask-makers in the world. I doubt that, but this is the only example I’ve ever seen. We need to know more about size, material, history, usage, etc. Let’s hope someone makes a comment. The newer (and purely decorative) Fiji mask, with its turtle representing happiness, measures about 8 inches. This mask was hand carved and hand painted for the tourist trade. These fakes come in many colors or plain wood, and have that Tiki look we see in so many souvenirs from the Pacific Ocean area. The Fiji Islands are…
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Mask from Burkina Faso
Q: This piece was acquired in Spain sometime ago. 9 inches tall by 5 inches wide. The wood and the paint seems in good shape. I’d appreciate any information on this mask. I bought with 2 more masks (smallers) with similar colors and designs. Pedro, 1330 A: I’m not sure exactly what tribe this antelope mask comes from. The Bwa, Nuna, Gusrunsiand and Bobo all live in the dry savannah land of central Burkina Faso. All of them seek the help of powerful spirits who live in the wild forests, bush country and rivers surrounding their villages. Their masks represent the spirits that have some influence on the human being.…
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Kore mask from the Bamana of Mali
This beautiful reproduction of a Bamana mask, the kind that might be used by the Ndomo Society for circumcision ceremonies, is being offered on the internet for only $75. You can check it out here. I don’t usually do this, but I want young collectors to realize that a very nice collection can be put together for a modest amount of money. Spend as much time as you can going to museums and reading books so you know a good deal when you see it. And remember that truly collectible masks are rarely found in thrift shops or street stands.
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Carnaval mask, Bacolod, Philippines
Bacolod is known for its Masskara Festival which is a parade and party like that of Brazil. People wear masks and party out on the street, drinking, eating and having a great time. The mask motif of the festival has changed from masks influenced by native Spanish-speaking Filipinos to those influenced by the Carnival of Venice and the Rio Carnival. Earlier masks were hand-painted and adorned with feathers, flowers and native beads, while contemporary masks feature plastic beads and sequins. There is a big festival in the Spanish colonial tradition in Marinduque that is religious in nature. You can see a much different Morione mask in the Oceania Categories.
