Q: I recently acquired three Mexican (?) masks from an estate sale. My understanding is that the collector had originally bought them in the 60’s, though I cannot confirm that, nor do I know the age of the masks at the time of purchase. Brian, 984 A: Thanks for sending the excellent photos. Two of the masks would be classified as Mexican decoratives, which means they were made for sale to tourists or art collectors. This one is more interesting. It is thinly carved, which is ideal for actual usage, but there are no holes for attachment to the dancer’s head. Some other questions… Why was it so quickly repainted?…
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Sepic River area mask
Q: (I can only find the photos of this mask from Martha, not her message. Hopefully, she can add something of interest.) 983 A: This is a example of an ancestor mask from the Lower Sepic River area of Papua New Guinea. It is a little rough and probably artificially aged for the tourist trade, but it is a classic design that would look good on the wall. B Save Save
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Another Senufo Kpelie mask
Q: This was my Father’s and I have no idea where he got it. He had several other masks and pieces of art that were definitely just decoration. This one is different from the rest which raised my curiosity level. Rather small in size but it does fit over my face. Gary, 982 A: Your mask is called a Kpelie and comes from the Senufo people of Ivory Coast. These refined face masks represent women, are danced by men, and are usually associated with the Poro association. Called “Beautiful Lady” or Kpelie, they come with many variations, with rich and complex symbolism. There are other Kpelies in the blog archives.…
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NWC Indian Raven Mask
Q: I have a handful more in storage that I can get at but it will take a bit of searching. One in particular has real teeth that I think is just delightful. Attached for now is the Canadian signed one. I just now looked at my other photos and they are awful so will have to get the husband to do better for me. Let me know what you think. Melissa, 981 A: The pic you sent is a tradition raven mask from one of the Indian cultures that inhabit the Northwest Pacific Coast of America and British Columbia. The wonderful folk art made by those various tribes for ceremony and…
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Mexican creativity continued
Q: Aside from the very excellent Mexican masks I have bought from you recently, I have made several other purchases. Attached are photos of seven of them, all Mexican. I am keeping the Cora mask and the Guerrero tigres 3 and 4 for my collection. The others will be sold. Aaron, 980 A: Cora masks are representative of ancestors and used in a Holy Week ceremony of boys entering adulthood. Called Judios, the dancers paint their bodies and wear papier mache masks that all look much different from each other. At the end of the ceremony the masks are destroyed. That is why we don’t often see these wildly creative masks on…
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Unusual Mexican Tigre Mask
Q: I thought this Tigre was really interesting. It is made of burlap and has real teeth sewn on. The eyes are mirrors. I’ve never seen one like that before. It is from the state of Guerrero. Aaron, 979 A: What a cool Jaguar. (Tigre is the local nick name. ) Or is this striped version supposed to be a real tiger? This unusual item is something any Mexican mask enthusiast would love. Burlap masks are very rare. If you go to this blog’s “Mexico” category you can see several different Tigres. There are many, many more! Mexican carvers are the world’s most imaginative in my opinion. A
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European art mask
Q: I bought this mask at an estate sale yesterday for $35. The estate sale person knew nothing about its origins or age, but the estate was full of local art items and collectibles. A friend suggested that the eyes of this mask remind her of work by sculptor Enrique Alférez who was Mexican but lived and worked in New Orleans in the 1930s. I’d appreciate any ideas or suggestions. Thanks! Nancy, 978 A: This looks almost like a Commedia dell’arte mask and it is very skillfully made. The professional carver could be from anywhere. Wooden masks for carnival and other celebrations are almost always painted. I’m sure this was made to…
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Airport art from Africa
Q: Thank you so much for providing this service! I received this mask from a wealthy family as a parting gift. I was only told that it was purchased while they were abroad. They are certainly not the type of people who would appreciate any questions about the gift, but I’d love to know more about it for insurance purposes as well as my own edification. Karen, 977 A: Collectors often refer to the commercial masks and other carvings designed for the tourist trade as “airport art.” Though this is a derogatory term, there are some where the artistic qualities are appealing to most tourists and even some collectors. This type…
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The unappreciated Mexican decorative
Q: I JUST INHERITED AN IMPORTANT MASK COLLECTION ( ABOUT 120 PIECES ) AND NEED TO SELL IT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NO PROPER SPACE AVAILABLE. WE WOULD LOVE TO SELL THE COLLECTION EITHER TO A MUSEUM OR COLLECTOR. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS? GABY, 975 A: I have often purchased mask collections from people like you. For starters, I will have to see more pictures. I’ll discuss this in more detail with a separated email. Let’s look at the single photo you sent of a very nice Mexican decorative. I would say it was carved and painted in the state of Guerrero, late 20th century. “Decorative” is a term used by collectors of Mexican…
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Garuda mask from Bali
Q: I just got this mask from an Indonesian trader in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She claims it was made in rural Sarawak, Borneo. It is entirely carved out of wood (type unknown) and despite looking weathered and old, I believe it is relatively new. The price was MYR150 (less than USD40). Size-wise, it is approximately 8 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide. I’d be interested to know what type of mask this really is. The trader said it is not a Garuda, but nevertheless a bird design that they treat as a lucky charm. Derrick, 976 A: Your attractive mask is a Garuda, inexpensively made in Bali for the huge tourist and collector…
