Hand-Carved Mexican Skull Dance Mask -Mexico, circa 1950
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Striking Mexican dance mask hand-carved from solid wood, depicting a stylized human skull, circa 1950.
Vintage 1950s Mexican Folk Art Masks
Wood
Hand-Carved Mexican Skull Dance Mask -Mexico, circa 1950
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Striking Mexican dance mask hand-carved from solid wood, depicting a stylized human skull, circa 1950.
Wood
Vintage hand Carved Wood Mexican Barbón Dance Mask
Located in Norwood, NJ
Vintage hand-carved Mexican “Barbón” dance mask featuring a dramatic long-bearded male face with deeply sculpted curls, expressive eyes, and rich dark wood tones.
Wood
Ceremonial Dance Mask from San Francisco Ozomatlan, Guerrero, Mexico 1970's
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Ceremonial dance mask from San Francisco Ozomatlan, Guerrero 1970's. This rare mask is from a Nahua / Totonaca indigenous community
Leather, Wood, Paint
Mexican Ceremonial Wall Decor Dance Mask
Located in Tampa, FL
This powerful and visually striking mask is hand carved from wood and richly painted in vivid reds, greens, yellows, and black, retaining its original surface with exceptional charac...
Wood
Mid-20th Century Black Dance Mask, Guerrero, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th century black dance mask, Guerrero, Mexico A nice old mask from Guererro, Mexico, used in the Tlacololero Dance of the Tlactapa and probably from the 1950s, has a very mode...
Wood
$1,250Sale Price|50% Off
Yellow Tigre Dance Mask Zitlala Guerrero, Mexico
Located in Morton Grove, IL
A VERY rare Tigre (TIGER) Dance Mask Zitlala Guerrero, Mexico. Anonymous Deep Yellow Tigre Dance Mask.
Leather, Acrylic
Mexican colourful Bat dance mask, hammered in copper, Nahua people, 19-20th C
Located in Leuven , BE
Rare and spectacular bat dance mask from Mexico. Crafted in the late 19th to early 20th century, with later retouches to the polychromy.
Copper
Ceremonial Coyote Mask – Dance of the Morenos, Colima, Mexico
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Ceremonial Coyote Mask – Dance of the Morenos, Colima, Mexico Circa 1960.
Wood
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
Vintage Painted Mexican Dance Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This small painted mask is a type of vintage festival mask donned by performers of various traditional dances and ceremonies in Mexico and Guatemala.
Wood, Paint
Colorful Leather Tiger Mexican Mask
Located in Montreal, QC
Colorful leather Mexican dance mask probably from Zitlala, Guerrero.
Leather
Mexican Tigre Jaguar Dance Mask Zitala Guerrero
Located in Sarasota, FL
Mexican leather yellow tigre or jaguar dance mask.
Leather
Very Rare Guerrero Silver Dance Mask, 19th-20th Century, Mexico
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
A highly decorated, heavy sheet silver mask with high relief decoration, depicting a man’s face with a long and curly beard. Two snakes decorate his forehead. The mask has pierced ea...
Silver
Vintage Mexican Dance Mask, Veracruz - circa 1940's
Located in San Francisco, CA
A good early 20th century mustachioed Moro mask from the dance of the Christians and Moors.
A Good Vintage Mexican Paragueros Dance Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
This finely crafted vintage Mexican dance mask comes from the state of Tlaxcala and dates to the middle of the 20th century - circa 1940's.
Mexican Ceremonial "Tiger" Dance Mask
Located in Nogales, AZ
Ceremonial tiger dance mask used to invoke rain for the next growing season and for good luck. The round mirrors over eyes are for recalling the god "Tezcatlipoca". As th...
Paint, Wood
Antique Mexican Copper Ceremonial Dancing Mask
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unusual antique Mexican copper ceremonial dancing mask in the form of a bat.
Copper
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
Danced Mask, Muyaes Collection
Located in Mexico City, DF
Together they traveled to all regions of Mexico in search of masks which had been danced - and in many cases passed on from generation to generation - in their quest to fully documen...
Wood
Superb Vintage Mexican Paragueros Mask - Tlaxcala
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very good vintage Mexican "Paragueros" or "Catrines" dance mask from Tlaxcala.
Wood, Glass
Excellent Mexican Jaguar Mask Early 1900's
Located in Montecito, CA
Great Mexican jaguar dance mask with mirrored eyes. On custom stand. circa 1900
Wood
Very Rare Antique Yaqui Pascola Ceremonial Dance Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
A superb Yaqui Pascola ceremonial dance mask from the Río Mayo valley in Southern Sonora / Río Fuerte valley in Northern Sinaloa. Skillfully carved from hardwood with thin walls, tuf...
Wood
A Superb Early 20th Century Mexican Burro (Donkey) Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
A superb early 20th century Mexican 'burro' (donkey) dance mask with original coral red, yellow and white paint.
Vintage Mexican El Serrano Ceremonial Dance Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare vintage Mexican "El Serrano" (Mexican highlander) is represented in this polychrome painted leather mask from Huejotzingo (Puebla) Mexico. Attributed to master Carlos Cozano. ...
Vintage Mexican Santiaguito Dance Horse
Located in San Francisco, CA
A great early 20th century Mexican "Santiaguito" dance horse (body mask) from the state of Puebla.
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
Willi Huggler Brutalist Style Carved Wood Mask
By Willi Huggler
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Carved grotesque wood mask with pierced eyes, very hooked nose, cigar between very crooked bone teeth. Label on verso reads, “Willi Huggler (Swiss, 1925-2016), Holzschnitzereien, Bri...
Bone, Wood
$591Sale Price / item|46% Off
H 15.36 in Dm 5.91 in
African Katanda Mask – Lega Tribe, DR Congo – Mid 20th Century
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bring a piece of African heritage into your space with this authentic vintage Katanda mask from the Lega people of DR Congo. Hand-carved in the mid-20th century, this tribal mask is ...
Hardwood
Mexican Folk Art Horned Mask Wall Decor Circa 1900s
Located in Tampa, FL
Captivating Mexican folk art horned mask dating from the early 1900s. Hand carved and hand painted with expressive detail, this mask reflects the vibrant spirit and ceremonial tradit...
Wood
A fine Kuba Mask - Rustic African Folk Art
Located in Skien, NO
Ngaady aMwaash Mask. African Antique Folk Art Kuba Mask, originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Property from a Private Collection. Acquired by a Norwegian Collector...
Softwood
Xantolo Day of the Dead Mask, Huazalingo, Wood & Goat Hair, 1970s
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Xantolo day of the dead mask from Huazalingo, Hidalgo, A striking example of a Xantolo mask, crafted for the day of the dead event which is profusely celebrated in the Huasteca regio...
Goat Hair, Wood, Paint
Zoomorphic Ceremonial Mask Mexico, circa 1940
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Distinctive mid-20th century Mexican ceremonial mask, hand-carved in wood with a powerful sculptural presence and a deeply expressive aesthetic. The piece depicts a fantastic zoomorp...
Wood
Parachico Mask from Chiapas – Mexican Folk Art
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Authentic traditional Parachico mask from Chiapas México, hand-carved in wood and hand-painted, associated with one of the most iconic festive traditions of southern Mexico. The piec...
Wood
$795
H 18 in W 23 in D 8 in
Large Vintage Latin American Hispanic Devil Diablo Folk Art Mask with Horns
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic piece. Really quite unique. We have not seen another quite like it. Made from heavy wood and features real horns. Likely South or Central American or perhaps from...
Paint, Wood
Vintage Lega - Kwele Mask from Congo Africa, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A hand-carved partially painted (natural pigments) Lega/kwele/bakwele mask. Artisan made in Congo circa 1960-80 and brought back to Denmark by a Danish traveller. It is executed in u...
Fruitwood
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 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
Rare 18th Century Nepalese Shamanic Mask in Carved Wood
Located in Nottingham, GB
This carved wooden Nepalese shaman mask dates from the late 18th century and retains traces of its original red, black and cream polychrome decoration. Boldly carved with large circu...
Wood
Vintage Balinese Theater Mask, Hand-Carved Teak, Polychrome, 1975-80
Located in New York, NY
A vintage theater mask from Bali, Indonesia, circa 1975-1980. Polychromed hand-carved teak, mounted on a black metal stand. This type of mask is used at Indonesian Topeng or Mas...
Teak
1950s Catrin "Dandy" Mask, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Catrin (Dandy) mask Nahua people, Tlaxcala, Mexico Wood, gesso, paint 1950s-1960s Measures: 7? (17.8 cm) high, 6.5? (16.5 cm) wide, 5? (12.7 cm) deep This mask is called the C...
Wood, Paint
Collection of Worldwide Traveler's Hand Carved Folk Art Masks
Located in Atlanta, GA
Collection of worldwide traveler's hand carved folk art masks, circa 1940s - 1970s, possibly earlier. We purchased the estate of an Atlanta Coca Cola executive, who traveled the worl...
Wood
French Majolica Asparagus Plate, circa 1890
By Orchies
Located in Austin, TX
Unusual French Majolica asparagus plate with 3 spaces unsigned, circa 1890.
Ceramic
$680Sale Price|45% Off
H 30 in W 16 in D 3.5 in
Ornate Gothic Style Gilded Mirror with Cherub and Masks
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Dramatic Gothic style aged mirror having central cherub at the top, ornate frame and two mask like faces on each side. Mirror has natural spiderwebs and mercury with fabulous moody ...
Gesso, Wood
$500 / item
H 18.7 in W 13.2 in D 3 in
Manly P. Hall's The Secret Teachings, Facsimile Book Set with Prints
By TASCHEN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The classic encyclopedia of the arcane in an expanded edition. Renowned philosopher and lecturer Manly P. Hall’s masterful encyclopedia of ancient symbols, hidden rituals, and arcan...
Foil
Carnival Midway Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner shop. Original wood strip attac...
Canvas
$195Sale Price|25% Off
H 4.73 in W 16.15 in D 5.91 in
Decorative hand-woven bag/box from Panama, Sac-Bolso by Ethic&Tropic
By Ethic&Tropic
Located in Warsaw, PL
Decorative hand-woven bag from Panama, Sac-Bolso by Ethic&Tropic Extraordinary art and decorative items, these masks come from the shamanic beliefs and rituals of indigenous Emb...
Cane
$849
H 15.75 in W 8.67 in D 7.09 in
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably century The face mask has a device for hanging. Very d...
Wood
$3,495
H 60 in W 60 in D 0.75 in
Japanese Asian Two Panel Meiji Edo Byobu Cherry Blossom Tree Folding Screen
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeous, large two-panel antique Japanese Byobu folding screen depicting a nature landscape scene with a venerable cherry blossom tree and a running river with blooming flowers. ...
Silver Leaf
$5,310
H 69.69 in W 148.04 in D 1.19 in
Japanese Six-Panel Gold-Ground Screen with Magnolia and Birds, 19th Century
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A Japanese six-panel folding screen depicting flowering magnolia branches and small birds against a richly toned gold ground, likely dating to the late Edo period, 19th century. A br...
Wood, Paper
$6,200
H 31.25 in W 14 in D 16 in
Mexican Carved Cocobolo Hand Chair in the Style of Pedro Friedeberg, circa 1960
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Camden, ME
A small-scale studio-carved cocobolo hand chair from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, circa 1960, in the style of Pedro Friedeberg. Carved from solid tropical hardwood, the chair combin...
Cocobolo
A Chinese 10-panel folding screen, C. 1940.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Each 17.5" wide panel is decorated on both sides with traditional lacquer, carved & painted motifs (the front featuring figures in a garden landscape and the reverse with various bi...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
$3,200
H 14.97 in W 14.97 in D 6.3 in
Mexican Folk Art Wood Carving Traditional Dance Handmade Alebrije One of a Kind
By Manuel Cruz Prudencio, Ruby Fabian
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
The young dancers wear an armor of threads over their bodies, showing off an ancient indigenous art form. Colorful thread combinations characterize the huipil dress, a rectangle of c...
Acrylic, Wood
A Pair of 19th Century Gustavian-Style Painted Doors
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Swedish Gustavian-Style hand-painted pine cabinet doors. By repute, these doors were painted Danish-Norwegian painter and art critic Poul 'Pola' Gauguin (1883-1961), the so...
Pine
$6,720Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 37 in W 35.5 in D 27 in
Pair of Figural Full Body Carved Teak Lioness Hunting Lodge Club Chairs
By Judy Kensley McKie, Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This spectacular pair of hand carved teak lioness club chairs are front-cover-magazine-worthy and can add a bit of the unexpected to any style of room. The color is a deep reddish br...
Teak
Sergio Bustamante Monumental Carved Sun Sculpture, Mexico, Circa 1980s
By Sergio Bustamante
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Sergio Bustamante Monumental Carved Sun Sculpture, Mexico, Circa 1980s A large and compelling hand-carved and hand-painted sculptural sun figure attributed to the celebrated Mexican...
Wood, Paint
1950s Very Rare Large French Wicker Fish Pendant Light
Located in Hastings, GB
Rare and exceptional extra large scale 1950’s wicker fish ceiling light, French. Due to their nature these original ceiling lights are incredibly rare to find from this period and es...
Wicker
Wooden Box, France, 1970s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Decorative carved wooden box, France, 1970s. An elegant wooden box crafted in a traditional style with a striking faceted geometric design. Its domed lid is topped with a conical ha...
Wood
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.
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.
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.
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
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.
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.
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.