Q: We found this mask in an old abandoned house in the Utah desert. Do you have any idea what it is or how old it might be? We don’t collect masks but like looking for cool things. James, 793
A: Shiny, sheet-metal masks are very popular in Taxco, Guerrero where thousands of tourists come every day for decor items, sliver and jewelry. This mask is not typical because it represents an animal and it is painted. So it could come from somewhere else in Mexico. Also, they don’t usually look this old because they would have been used as wall decor and taken care of. I’m going to suggest that the owners of that Utah house left it in a dirty shed for a few years. But I agree that it looks pretty cool and, who knows, could be old and authentic.
2 Comments
Bryan Stevens
Hello
I wrote about tin tourist masks from Taxco in my post of May 25, 2015. You can go there by clicking on my website link, and then scroll down to that post.
Although animal masks of tin from Mexico are unusual, this one is definitely in the style of Taxco, because it has eyelashes like they make on their tin masks. Tin masks from Taxco date back from the 1950s to the present.
Bryan Stevens
My website is
mexicandancemasks.com