Q: I have recently owned some masks on an antique fair. I am not an expert so I am very curious if they are original, hand made, etc. Could you please tell me what their origin is? I am sending photos of one of the masks. I would be grateful for your help.
A: This mask is from Sri Lanka, a small island nation with a rich tradition of masquerade. I would say it is a rather nice example of one made for sale to tourists. It is original and handmade. The cobra is a common design element used on Sri Lankan masks. If you search Google images you will see many different characters. In this way you may be able to identify your pieces and learn more about their use. Good luck. B
