Antique Jaguar Mask — Traditional Mexican Carving
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Antique Mexican mask hand-carved in wood, depicting the powerful face of a jaguar—one of the most significant and symbolic animals in the ritual traditions of Mesoamerica.
Wood
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.
Wood
Antique Mexican Diablo Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and very antique Mexican Diablo mask in wood, circa 1940. Great patina.
Wood
Antique Mexican Ceremonial Mask, circa 1940
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Expressive traditional Mexican mask, hand-carved in wood and polychromed, circa 1940. Defined by its strong features and sculptural presence, it displays a prominent nose, brows acce...
Wood
Antique Mexican Hand-Carved Wooden Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Traditional Mexican mask hand-carved from wood, embodying the symbolic strength and expressive power of folk art. Its skull-like face, with hollowed eyes and a fixed, subtle grin, ev...
Wood
Antique Mexican Bearded Man Mask Guerrero, Mexico, circa 1930
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Extraordinary hand-carved Mexican folk mask depicting the classic “Barbón,” or bearded man character, an emblematic figure in traditional ceremonial dances and carnival celebrations ...
Wood
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 6 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Antique Mexican Hand-Carved Ritual Mask, Circa 1940
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
A remarkable example of Mexican folk art with strong sculptural presence—ideal for collectors of antique masks, tribal and vernacular art, or interiors with a primitivist, Brutalist,...
Wood
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 3
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 6 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 2
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 5 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Antique Mexican Skull sign
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and very antique Mexican Skull sign in wood, circa 1970. Great patina.
Wood
Antique "Calavera" Mexican Carved Wood Mask
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing example of true Folk Art, this is a huge carved mask painted in multiple colors and adorned with horse hair. This piece probably was made in Guerrero.
Wood, Paint
Antique Mexican 'Muerte' Mask with Hand-Molded Leather Helmet
Located in San Francisco, CA
A superb early 20th century Mexican 'muerte' mask (death mask) from Guerrero, circa 1920s-1930s. Hand-carved and polychrome painted wood together with hand-stitched and molded leathe...
Wood
Antique Mexican Jaguar Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare antique Mexican Jaguar mask in leather, circa 1970.
Leather
Antique Mexican Carnaval Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare antique Mexican Carnaval mask in pine wood, circa 1940.
Wood
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 15 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 3
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 10 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 2
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 5 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Sold
H 14.97 in W 14.97 in D 9.45 in
Antique Ceremonial Jaguar (Tigre) Mask, Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this exceptional ceremonial Tigre (the Mexican colloquial term for jaguar) mask originates from Zitlala, Guerrero, and represents a powerful example of one of Me...
Leather
Mexican Papier-Mâché Jaguar Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique Mexican papier-mâché Jaguar mask 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Early 20th Century Hand Carved Mexican Carnival Mask
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Hand Carved Mexican carnival mask A highly decorative and authentic early 20th century Mexican carnival mask.
Pine
Sold
H 30 in W 52 in D 18 in
Monumental Mexican Carved Polychrome Mermaid Dance Mask, Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent life-size Mexican folk art hand carved and painted wood body dance mask, in the form of a mermaid, dating to the early 20th century, most likely originating in Guerrero...
Wood, Gesso, Paint
Antique Mexican Skull Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and very antique Mexican Skull mask in wood, circa 1940. Great patina.
Wood
Antique Mexican Skull Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and very antique Mexican Skull mask in wood, circa 1970. Great patina.
Wood
Antique Mexican Jaguar Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique Mexican Jaguar mask made in leather, mirror for eyes and boar bristles.
Leather
Antique Ceremonial Coyote Mask, Mexico
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Antique Ceremonial Coyote Mask, Mexico Circa 1960.
Wood
Antique Set of Mexican Carnival Masks
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this antique set of 11 Antique Mexican Carnival Kitch Masks 100% handmade.
Paper
Pair of Antique Parachico Mexican Masks
Located in Rochester, NY
Pair of antique carved and painted wood Parachico Mexican masks.
Wood, Paint
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 1
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 8 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Paper
Sold
H 14.97 in W 14.97 in D 9.45 in
Antique Ceremonial Jaguar (Tigre) Mask, Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico 2
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this exceptional ceremonial Tigre (the Mexican colloquial term for jaguar) mask originates from Zitlala, Guerrero, and represents a powerful example of one of Me...
Leather
Antique Mexican Mask from Guerrero
Located in San Francisco, CA
A strong and graphic carved and painted wood mask from the area around Gurrero This mask comes from a very large collection assembled about 25 years ago. The mask measures 10.25" h...
Wood
Antique Mexican Mask from Guerrero
Located in San Francisco, CA
This powerful and rustic mask came to me because a dealer friend thought I might enjoy taking a look at this collection that was being sold off. The collection was formed about 25 y...
Antique Mexican Santiaguito Body Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fabulous example of a vintage Mexican 'Santiaguito' body mask with horse hair mane, tassels and original chain link bridle - rich with color, wear and patina. Displayed on a high q...
Large Antique Mexican Processional Mask - Torito
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very large, rare early 20th century (circa 1940's) Mexican torito mask. Hand carved and polychrome painted hardwood with real bull horns, original leather straps and two large hand...
Wood, Horn, Leather
Antique Mexican Copper Ceremonial Dancing Mask
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unusual antique Mexican copper ceremonial dancing mask in the form of a bat.
Copper
Large Antique Mexican Torito Mask - Circa 1930.
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large early 20th century hand carved and polychrome painted Mexican "torito" mask. Deaccessioned from the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, NC.
Dimensions: 13.5 inche...
Wood
Very Rare Antique Mexican 'Raspador" Ceremonial Dance Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare early 20th century Mexican 'Raspador' mask from Oaxaca. The Raspador is a type of Viejito (old man) mask with a protracted nose that the dancer rubs with a wooden stick to mak...
Wood
Rare Antique Mexican Molded Leather Highlander Mask - Puebla
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare mid century Mexican molded leather highlander mask from Huejotzingo, northwest of the City of Puebla. Beautiful hand stitched, molded and painted leather with large mutton-cho...
Leather
A Large and Impressive Antique Mexican Bull Devil Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large and impressive early 20th century Mexican bull devil mask with adjoining coral snakes, mirrored glass eyes, large wooden teeth and polychrome painted horns. Guerrero - circa ...
Today, art enthusiasts and venturesome interior designers find a lot to love and appreciate about antique and vintage masks, particularly as they have earned a distinct place amid a collection of folk art and other collectibles and curiosities in contemporary homes.
Folk art refers to art that people, not classically trained, created for either utilitarian or decorative purposes. With respect to visual art in folk art, it is typically reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition. Masks, as part of this history, have been used in carnivals, theater, medicine, therapy, religion and more. The use of masks in rituals and sacred ceremonies goes back thousands of years, and masks in general are believed to be much older. And all kinds of other uses have been found for masks and face coverings over time. We have enlisted these accessories for protection, to signal modesty, facilitate flirtation, enable licentiousness or simply to look cool.
Archaeologists found a mask in Palestine that is believed to be 9,000 years old, a Neolithic-era stone mask that may have been part of rituals associated with the worship of ancestors. Some tribal masks are worn as an offering to the gods. Masks are among the most important African art forms, for example, and traditional African masks can be used to lend a concrete form to an invisible spirit. Dancers donning wooden tribal masks celebrate important events to honor their deceased ancestors. These masks are also very important devices for storytelling and sharing the oral history of a community.
For Asian artists, specific colors are used in masks to convey different values and ideas. In Japan, a red Oni mask worn by performers during a festival might signify anger, while in China’s Peking Opera, a mask that has been hand-painted gold would be worn by an immortal.
Mexican craftspeople make masks for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater. A common symbol of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead is a skull, which is widely represented in masks (although the innumerable activities associated with the holiday are by no means universal).
We’re inviting you to explore and pay respect to the long folk-art traditions that underpin mask-making by introducing antique and vintage masks to your space. Find an exciting collection on 1stDibs today.