Q: We bought this mask in New Orleans in an antique shop about three years ago. It cost $90 and was from a man who collected masks. We would love to know where it comes from and have never seen another one like it. It was labelled as a wolf mask. Thank you so much for your assistance. Jenny, 1108 A: It could be a wolf or a dog. Both play roles in several Mexican dances. It would be nice to know what state it came from, the village and the dance. Brand new and without holes and straps, it was probably made for the tourist trade. I like it! …
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Big mask from Tanzania
It is 11 by 23 inches and weighs 9 pounds. I have seen a few monster masks photographed by anthropologists doing field work in West Africa, but I don’t remember the details. This one has a wonderful, traditional design that I think I’ve seen before on a normal sized carving. There is dark stain front and back that has been partially rubbed off. It could be a tourist mask, but why make it this big and difficult to ship? Please help! Note to smartphone users: those are not little white fangs in the mouth. Bob, 1107 Save Save Save Save
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Ekoi mask comparison
Q: Every year in Tucson, there is a Gem & Mineral Show that lasts about a week and takes over most of the city. Among other things, they also have an “African Village” where sellers from all over Africa come to hawk their wares. Most of it is tourist trash, but every once in a while someone shows up with a gem. This comes from the Ekoi (aka Ejagham) people of the Cross Rivers area of Nigeria. Other than it being a helmet mask of an antelope, I’m not sure what type it is. The other Ekoi animal masks I’ve seen had a more crocodile look to them. Maybe someone…
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A Thai hermit mask rarely seen
Q: Do you want to use this mask for your website? This special hermit mask is a Lersi Por Gae that was made for a Thai shaman. It is beautifully made and has written mantras in Pali all over the face. Only 4 years old, it has never been danced, but is still authentic in the sense that it was part of a shaman’s shrine. Quite rare, I’ve seen only one other so far. Steph, 1105 A: Blow up the second photo as large as you can and see how finely Thai maskmakers can form and decorate these papier mache masterpieces. If you have a copy of Masks of the…
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Hard to identify or just tourist
Q: I have a large mask from up-country in the Ivory Coast. I believe this is the original article and not a tourist “knock off.” I’m looking for more information as to origins and price. Can I send you a pic? (later) More pictures, at last, Bob. Sorry still not one of the back. The mask is languishing in Vietnam with friends who are about to move back to the states. If you know anyone who wants to rescue it let me know. David, 1104 A: I think this is a tourist mask from Africa or Asia. Most of the masks in thrift shops or the Internet fall into this…
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Masquerade in Switzerland and Germany
I would like to send to you a few pics about an event which takes place in my home town roughly every 10 years. It is a regional meeting of masks coming from the German parts of Switzerland and from southern Germany. It was great, there were some 60 groups, most of them with real, carved wooden masks. I think that the event proves that masking culture is well alive here north of the Alps. By the way, the photo with that mask wearing a black-red-white hat and cloth is a very well-known figure around here, the so-called “Blätz”, which means simply “an old piece of tissue”. This, because in…
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Indian mask from SE Brazil
Q: I’m looking for a mask from the Xingu River region. I’m not sure what I’m looking for specifically, but I would love to see what there is! Leah, 1102 A: There are many Indian cultures in the huge Amazon region of Brazil. Though I can’t find anything from the Xingu River area, this excellent Karajas piece come from the Araguaia River area in the Matto Grosso lowlands just to the west of the Xingu. It is a tall and elaborately decorated ijasó headdress with grass mask and skirt. They are always made in pairs, and represent spirits called by shamans to visit the Karajás’ villages. Maybe someone who reads…
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Tago mask from PNG
Q: Came across your site trying to identify a mask. It was given to my dad a long time ago by a friend who liked to travel, but he can’t remember where it’s from or anything else about it. Was hoping you could help. It’s about 17″ tall and 10″ wide. A: Tago masks represent the ghosts of important ancestors. Every ten to twelve years, a year-long series of ceremonies remind each clan of its ancestral connections, with two major performances celebrating the arrival and departure of the ghosts. When men wear the tago mask, a taboo is placed on all coconuts for one year and there must be…
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Pretty cool Guatemalan mask
Q: I have 2 mystery masks. Here is the first one. Paid $18 for a antique extravaganza. Could it be from Guatemala? Mexico? It’s pretty cool. Gena, 1100 A: I picked this one to post. Indeed it is a cool mask. Even though a cheaply made commercial product, it looks so Guatemalan. You know instantly it could come from nowhere other than the mountains of Central America. Of course, most serious collectors don’t want “tourist junk” on their walls. Perhaps some collectors would be revolted by this guy (especially anthropologists), but I think the mask is a keeper! C Save Save
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Himalayan skull masks
I was just looking at this entertaining skull mask. Skulls are a subject for masquerade in cultures all over the world. This one is obviously from the Himalayan region. You can always recognize this because of the way the nose, cheek bones and many teeth are sculpted. It is made of papier mache which is light-weight and cheap. Most of the skull masks made for use in dance or ceremony nowadays utilize that material. However, this particular one was antiqued for sale to the tourist trade. I’m also posting two other skull masks from page 38 of my book, Masks of the World, that were carefully carved out of wood. …