 Q: Any information on this mask? Origin, age, and purpose? Jordan, 1296
A: My first thought is quickly made tourist mask with no relevance to any culture. But those big red eyes with a large, single eye hole in between are very unusual. If I was cranking out tourist masks for the trade, would I make something like this? No, it’s too weird. So I can’t help you on origin, age or purpose. Maybe someone else can, or at least comment whether authentic or fake.  |
Primitive mask purchased in Goa
Mexican Lucha Libre masks
9 Comments
jordan
Are you sure its African in origin?
Bob Ibold
No. Any ideas would be appreciated.
jordan
for some reason i am thinking Indonesia. But that’s a wild guess from an uneducated individual.
Chris
maybe a very, very simple Dayak mask? the red eyes would somehow match…but I have never seen one with a single hole like that on the front.
jordan
was the hole the place of something missing? Like a horn or something?
Bob Ibold
Authentic masks require that the performer be able to see. The eye holes can be where you would expect them, slits above or below the eyes, and sometimes in the middle of the forehead. There are also masks where the open mouth is used.
Chris
I just found several of very similar masks, crudely carved with just one hole in the front, and these circular eyes…I am sorry, but these are all very cheap and rapidly made items. Told to be “African”, but in fact they could have been made anywhere around the globe.
Bob Ibold
Cheap, one hole masks have been sold in Guatemala for as long as I can remember.
jordan
so is the main theory at this point is that its a cheaply made, non-significant mask from Central America?