Q: I acquired a few more masks in the last few weeks. The last is an Azteca mask from Danza de la Conquista in Veracruz. I’m sure you’ll recognize it. I won that at an auction along with 2 diablo con chintetes masks from Guerrero, which I’m going to sell. Enjoy! Aaron, 915 A: We are so lucky that Aaron continues to share his great finds with us. This is one of the most extraordinary dance masks from Mexico. Or anywhere for that matter. Look at that amazing protrusion comming out of the face! A similar Azteca is shown and described on page 124 of our new book, Masks of…
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Inuit small stone mask
Q: I purchased this small mask carved in some type of marbled stone at an antique market in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It is about 5-1/2″ X 3-1/2″. I paid $85.00 for it. I have no idea whether there is any real value to the piece. I have been collecting interesting masks over the years and I just could not resist this one. Curious to know if you might know thew cultural origin…and if in fact there is any value? Mo, 914 A: A lot of small stone sculptures are made by the Inuit of Alaska. Perhaps some of the First Nations people of northern Canada do the same. The question…
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Modern Mosquito Mask
Q: I was wandering around a Goodwill “end of the rode” store, where items are priced by weight! They were pushing large carts filled with ephemera towards the center of the store. People always make a wild dash to be the first one at the bins!! I waited until everyone had gone to another bin….and I found this mask. It cost me $1.99! The mask is very light wood and reminds me of the Northeast masks of Canada. Any ideas about it would be appreciated. Regardless of it’s origins…I love it. Mickey, 913 A: You can’t beat that price. Well made tourist masks, wherever they come from, cost more than…
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Could be colder in Alaska
The wind chill here in Lancaster, PA will go below 0 degrees Fahrenheit tomorrow. Made me think of a mask on page 92 of our new book, Masks of the World. It’s a shaman mask made by the Inuit people of Simon Paneak, Alaska. It is constructed of natural materials, mostly from caribou. Though it may or may not have some ethnographic basis, they have always been made by the Inuit for trade with visitors.
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The balaclava can be scary
Though this website deals mostly with ethnographic masks from cultures all over the world, we occasionally see masks used for protection and other purposes. A few people, like yours truly, enjoy collecting them as well. In our new book, Masks from Around the World, chapter 13 is called “Protection & Protest” and the next one is “Steampunk & Sex.” This mask is on page 173 with the following description. 958 Balaclava The 3-holed black balaclava was designed as full cold-weather protection for the head. During the Crimean War in 1854 handmade balaclavas were sent over to the British troops to help protect them from the winter weather. Today they are…
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A great storage unit story
Q: The storage unit I got these masks from was appraised at $30,000-50,000. I did not buy the unit for that amount They did except my offer. The unit contained more than masks. Also Art, Paintings, Books, Jewelry, Ect. Apparently the man that had the collection passed away, was a Librarian for 40 years. Never married, traveled the world. went to some tribes personally, and liked the signatures too. Kathleen, 910 A: Kathleen sent pics of a number of masks found in the treasure trove. All of them are quite interesting. Lucky her! This could be one of several male characters in the famous Topeng dance drama of Bali. Wonderful…
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Khon mask for Thai dancers
Q: I bought this mask 5 or 6 years ago in Vermont in a small shop owned by an elderly gentlemen. He told me he brought it back with him shortly after WW11 in which he served. Mask reminded me of the dancers in the King and I movie. I paid $20 for it. I would like to know if it is a Khon dance mask from Siam and its approximate age. Mickey, 909 A: It is from Siam, or what is now called Thailand in SE Asia. This is a classic Khon dance mask made out of strong papier mache and carefully detailed with paint and spangles. Often they…
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Another great Mexican decorative
Q: I do love old stuff. When we bought our historic house 10 years ago we bought it with items in house still. I have found a few interesting items also. Here are a couple pics of a mask we found. its about 35 inches x 25 and is carved out of one piece of bottom of a tree. It looks like maybe rubber tree wood painted in Indian colors. Well anything you can tell me is great John, 908 A: Mexican decoratives, also called tourist masks, are avoided by most collectors. None the less, I often find them interesting and even beautiful, which is certainly true of yours. This…
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Unusual Fang mask from Ivory Coast
Q: I got strongly interested in African tribal art two years ago when I came to Brussels. Recently I bought a Fang mask. The shape is not the common shape of Fang Ngil masks. This one in the photo is 56cmX24cm and weighs 2,4kg. Is it a true Fang mask? What kind of variety? On your value code where would it stand? Ricardo, 907 A: Though not common, I believe it is a true Fang mask. ln the side view you can see clearly the elegant way the concave facial area has been sculpted out of the face. The Fang do this so well. I should also point out…
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Decorative masks can be fun
Q: Hey, I bought this mask off of EBay. The seller took over her sister’s estate. Apparently the sister had majored in anthropology and was a collector of African and Pacific Northwest Indian fetishes. The lady selling the mask did not know anything about it. I’ve looked for similar masks, but haven’t come across any. I was curious if you could shed some light on the origin of this mask. Austin, 906 A: You’d have a hard time finding another one of these. At first glance it is a Kple Kple mask from the Baule people of Ivory Coast, West Africa. It’s even antiqued to make it look old and…
