Primitive Masks
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Style: Primitive
Primitive Wooden Mesoamerican Style Hand Carved Mask Sculpture on Stand Statue
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th Century Mesoamerican style tribal mask on black finished wooden stand. The mask is carved from part of a tree trunk with intricate detail.
Dimensions:
9.5" x 16" x 21"h
Category
Late 20th Century Primitive Masks
Materials
Metal
Dayak Shaman Mask
Located in London, GB
A rare Iban Dayak shaman ritual mask, early to mid 20th century, Kalimantan/Borneo, Indonesia. Hand carved from local jelutong wood with existing decorative lime and charcoal/pigments.
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Art Deco Period, African Ritual Tribal Oxidized Bronze ‘Brow Mask’, 1920s
Located in New York, NY
This superb example of the ritual African ‘Brow Mask’ is a unique creation of a truly skillful artist from the Jimini tribe of the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) during the Art Deco per...
Category
1920s African Vintage Primitive Masks
Materials
Bronze
Very Important “Nwantantay” African Dance Mask
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Very important “Nwantamtay” dance African mask, consisting of three sections: The upper in plain rectangular shape surmounted by a crescent shape moon, the middle with beautiful geometric triangles in black bitumen and white kaolin, surrounding a red cruciform in the centre of remarkable contrasting colors, and the lower part or face inscribed in a circular space that inspired numbered great artists like Joan Miro, Picasso and Henry Moore of a very strongly solar symbolism, with a projecting protuberance emanating from the forehead like a sculpted bird beak, that descents toward the mouth. Concentric eyes harmonize with the circular mouth, both with of elegant proportions. The whole mask exudes a supreme harmony and perfect balance rarely seen in this pieces. The back-side presents nice ware that attested the ancient origin and traces of animistic ceremonies as the use of animal blood residues. The painting of brown bitumen or cola, the natural colorants in red and ocher tones and the white kaolin are original and do not show any repainted or restored areas, giving a freshness rarely seen in old pieces. This exceptional mask Bwa, of the Hound`e Region in Burkina-Fasso, was used it the transit ceremonies and funerals manifesting the presence of “Do”, name given to their God sons, protectors and powerful spirits. The round face also represents an owl, the curving beak of the bird plants a seed into the sun, like a female sexual vulva being fecundated by the male organ; the eternal symbol of Ying and Yang, masculine and feminine, and the quest of life and death. This mask of Primitive facture can be compared to the one in the celebrated Verite Collection (this one being larger) sold in Paris at the Hotel Drouot, Saturday June 17, Lot 59, for 80,000 Euros and remarkably stands out from the Pierre and Tannia Matisse sold in Sotheby’s, New York in May 13, 2011. Another similar piece was published in: “Arman et l’art africain...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Related Items
MISTO, Seminara Ceramic Mask
Located in Paris, FR
MISTO invites itself into your interior to ward off spells, evil spirits and evil influences.
Sophie Dries reinvents the traditional Calabrian mask with her contemporary graphic
li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Primitive Masks
Materials
Ceramic
Cariddi, Seminara Ceramic Mask
Located in Paris, FR
In Greek mythology, the name CARIDDI (Charybdis in English) belonged to a monster that lived in the sea between Calabria and Sicily and destroyed ships by swallowing them up and spitting them back out, generating dangerous whirlpools in the water. This myth is reinterpreted in the form of a mask, which inverts the traditional convex surface to create a concave volume inspired by the underwater world. The mask invites the gaze into the blue depths of its smooth interior, where an uncanny protrusion emerges in the shape of a nose, a signature motif in Giovanni De Francesco’s artistic production. Each nose-island is different from the others; every mask has a unique beauty accentuated by imperfections, smudges, and uncontrollable colors, invoking the unpredictability of fear. This perception overturns the ferocious symbolism of the legendary monster, rewriting CARIDDI as a welcoming narrative. The artist’s explorations of fear, danger, and the unknown become particularly poignant when placed in the recent historical context of Calabria and the Mediterranean Sea.
In the exceptional conditions of the present moment, when hundreds of millions of people are spending more time at home than ever before in living memory, the homeware brand TRAME wants to share the inspiring and supportive influences of these Mediterranean ritual objects with the entire world.
The masks, whether the traditional forms or the contemporary design interpretations, reveal a sense of both timelessness and contemporaneity in their aspirational evocation of a social life with more serenity and less fear.
Details:
- Dimension: approximately 28 H x 22 W x 8 D cm
- Material: 100% Mediterranean terracotta clay
- Technique: 100% handmade in Italy
- Each handcrafted CARIDDI Seminara mask is unique. Picture on an indicative basis.
- 14-days return policy
- In stock
Giovanni De Francesco (Bergamo 1976), lives and works between Milan and Paris. He is a visual artist dedicated to sculptural installations through the use of plastic materials, photography, video, painting and sound. Since 1997 he has taken part in many personal exhibits as well as collective ones. He an artistic consultant at the Luisa delle Piane gallery in Milan and is a founding member of the Monstera theatre company.
He occasionally collaborates with Andre Branzi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Primitive Masks
Materials
Ceramic
African Mask, Angola, 20th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
African mask in hand painted wood, 20th century Angola.
Category
20th Century Angolan Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
African Dogon Manner Tribal Face Mask
Located in New York, NY
African Dogon manner tribal face mask, in the style of the Dogon peoples of Mali.
Dimensions: 12" H x 6" W (approx)
Dealer: S138XX.
Category
Mid-20th Century Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Hand-Carved Wood Javanese ‘Wayang Topeng’ Theatre Mask, Indonesia c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A visibly old mask from the Javanese masks theatre ‘wayang topeng’: carved from hard wood, and painted on the front side. The mask shows clear traces of ...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Free Shipping
H 9.85 in W 8.27 in D 4.73 in
Traditional, Seminara Ceramic Mask
Located in Paris, FR
Ditto potters with Antonio Bonamico.
The ceramic masks of Seminara are ostentatious and grotesque, with deliberately frightening features to scare away ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Primitive Masks
Materials
Ceramic
Liberia Bassa Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
Covered with an extraordinary black crusted patina, this wooden Liberian mask was hand-crafted in the style of the Bassa ethnic group. Bassa communities have a number of rich masking...
Category
20th Century Liberian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
African Lwalwa Tribal Mask
Located in Montreal, QC
African Lwalwa tribal mask enhanced with white pigment on the mouth and ears.
Category
1960s Congolese Vintage Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Songye Basangwe Mask DRC Wall Hanging Mask Circa 1950s
Located in Torquay, GB
On offer is a Basangwe mask from the Songye people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, circa 1950s.
The mask has the typical facial shape of the Basangwe mask.
At the top, it has a pair of stylised birds decorated with punched triangles. Their long beaks seem to suggest Hornbill or Kalao bird.
The eyes are slanted elongated slits, it has narrow nose and protruding circular mouth in a light russet colour.
It has a banded stripe design in black and white more similar to a Songye Kifwebe mask...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Mexican Demon Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare antique Mexican Demon mask in wood, circa 1970. The mask makes a sound when moved.
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Tribal Style Songye Kifwebe Mask, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
This graphic Songye Kifwebe mask has fine carved lines curved over the eyes and diagonal lines radiating from the nose and mouth in classic Kifwebe form. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Congolese Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Monumental African Tribal Burkina Faso Horned Bobo Ceremonial Mask
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century zoomorphic African ceremonial mask or puppet head sculpture attributed to the tribes people of Burkina Faso. This meticulously crafted wooden African mask or head ...
Category
20th Century Burkinabe Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood, Hardwood
Previously Available Items
Southeast East of Asia Mask from the 20th Century
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional mask from Southeast of Asia, circa 20th century.
Craved wood and painted by hand.
In good condition with wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful pa...
Category
20th Century Asian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Southeast East of Asia Mask from the 20th Century
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional mask from Southeast of Asia, circa 20th century.
Craved wood and painted by hand.
In good condition with wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful pa...
Category
20th Century Asian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Large Early Foundry Bellows, Found Art Object
Located in Peekskill, NY
This striking object dates from the turn of the century with details like berry dyed stain, aged leather and handwrought hardware. This piece has a nice way of transcending its inten...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Guatemalan Jaguar Mask
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Carved Guatemalan Jaguar ceremonial dancing mask, circa 1920s.
Category
Early 20th Century Guatemalan Primitive Masks
Materials
Hardwood
Punu Mask Gabon 20th Century with Decorative African Statue 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Punu mask
Gabon, 20th century,
Of classical form, the white-faced mask
with high double crested coif and side braids,
raised scarification between the eyes and at the temples...
Category
20th Century Gabonese Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
H 17.25 in W 4.75 in D 3.25 in
Bamana Antelope Mask, Africa, Early 20th Century
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Very old African carved wood head crest in the form of a long horned antelope with a very long snout with drilled nostrils and tongue showing ...
Category
Early 20th Century Malian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Guere African Wood Mask with Movable Jaw, Early 20th Century
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Very expressive Guere wood mask with movable jaw. Beautiful old patina with marked signs of heavy use. This magnificent mask is mounted on a custom Lucite stand.
Provenance: Priv...
Category
Early 20th Century Ivorian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Southeast East of Asia Mask from the 20th Century
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional mask from Southeast of Asia, dated circa 20th century.
Craved wood and painted by hand.
In good condition, with wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Category
20th Century Asian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Mexican "Cora" Mask
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Mexican Cora mask, Jesus Maria, Nayarit. Paper mâché, horns and cloth. Cora celebration of Holy Week. A wonderful example of the Cora culture and workmanship in the high sierras of N...
Category
Early 2000s Mexican Primitive Masks
Materials
Plaster
Antique African Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
Antique African mask from the estate / collection of Gore Vidal.
Category
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
Large Antique Mask, Papua New Guinea Oceanic, 19th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
Antique mask from the estate/collection of Gore Vidal, 19th century.
We believe it to be oceanic, perhaps from the Papua New Guinea region but to be p...
Category
Mid-19th Century Papua New Guinean Antique Primitive Masks
Materials
Wood
African Carved Ram Form Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
Antique African mask from the collection or estate of Gore Vidal.
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Primitive masks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Primitive masks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage masks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Primitive masks made in a specific country, there are Africa, Asia, and Burkina Faso pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for masks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,641 and tops out at $56,250 while the average work can sell for $3,500.