Here is a medium-sized collection of masks from all over Mexico. There are 94 of them representing 15 states out of 31. Most are carved wood, and some are papier mache, leather, metal and fired clay. Few of them have much age. Old masks are rare, because rough usage and climate take their toll. Only one is not painted, which means it was made strictly for tourists.
You won’t see collections like this in museums. It includes authentic (used in culture), plus new ones that could be used and decoratives for tourists and export. Curators and serious collectors don’t like to see this a mix like this.
I disagree. Many decoratives are made by the same carvers who produce authentic and new masks. These beautiful pieces can be very creative and certainly worth collecting. Art is an important part of Mexican culture, unlike many countries
