Kagura Mask
Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Goat Hair, Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Japanese Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Wood
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s Mexican Folk Art Masks
Wood
Vintage 1930s Japanese Arms, Armor and Weapons
Fabric, Glass
2010s Italian Brutalist End Tables
Concrete
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Busts
Carrara Marble
Antique 17th Century Japanese Antiquities
Metal
Vintage 1920s Japanese Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s American Classical Greek Figurative Sculptures
Resin
Antique 19th Century Japanese Metalwork
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Center Tables
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Lacquer
Lacquer
Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Metal
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Gold, Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Sculptures and Carvings
Cedar
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Masks
Lacquer, Wood
Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Goat Hair, Wood, Lacquer
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Japanese Decorative Objects
Wood
Finding the Right masks for You
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.
Read More
A Giant Wedding Cake Has Us Looking at Portuguese Tiles in a New Light
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
Why Jules Chéret Was the King of the Modern Poster
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Why the American Flag Has Had So Many Different Star Patterns
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
Peggy Guggenheim Loved Modernism, but She Also Collected Tribal Art
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
The 13-Star American Flag Had More Variations Than You’d Think
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Tramp Art, America’s Most Misunderstood Art Form, Is Trending in Interiors
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.