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Masks For Sale
Dan-Guéré Mask, fist half of the XXth century
Located in Paris, FR
The Dan, a sub-tribe of the Dan-Nguere, inhabit eastern Liberia, Guinea Conakry, and Côte d'Ivoire. Their social and spiritual structure is based on the secret society Poro, which me...
Category
Early 20th Century Ivorian Art Deco Masks
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Tribal Mask from Atoni Tribe Timor
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This very flat mask originates from the Atoni people of Timor. For the Timorese people masks portray both male and female ancestors, worn by warriors to scare off enemies or during c...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
Wood
Javanese Hand-Crafted Wayang Topeng Theatre Mask, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This early 20th century ‘Wayang topeng’ mask was used in Javanese masked dance performances.
Measures: Height with stand 47cm; Height 18cm x Width 14cm...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
Wood
Vintage Carved Wood Mask, African Folk Art 20th Century
Located in Bochum, NRW
African mask handmade and carved from a single piece of exotic wood, in a manner specific to the traditional African art. Hand carved wall mask with decorative geometric ornaments, d...
Category
1970s Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Set of 4 Detailed Wood Carving Alpine Gnome Dwarf Faces Austria Alps Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Set of four rustic Folk Art carved wood face mountain man. This is a wonderful example of Austrian carving. This can be used as a Wall decoration in y...
Category
1960s German Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Vintage Carved Wood Mask, African Folk Art 20th Century
Located in Bochum, NRW
A hand carved wood wall mask, vintage from the 20th Century. African Folk Art.
Handmade and carved from a single piece of exotic wood, in a manner specific to traditional African ar...
Category
1970s African Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Vintage African Wood and Shell Mask
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Intriguing good looking mask artistically made of combination of hand crafted beads ,shells , and hand painted wood. To make such a exceptional object of art for display.
Custom-mad...
Category
1970s African Tribal Vintage Masks
Materials
Shell, Wood, Beads
Vintage Pair of Venetian Masquerade Masks on Opera Sticks
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Folk Art jester masks that are original Venetian creations, entirely hand-drawn and handcrafted, circa 2000. Italian Artists have realized these pieces with respect of craftsmanship traditions and following original designs developed in Venice for “Commedia dell'Arte” during the late 17th century.
The coated papier mâché faces...
Category
20th Century Italian Folk Art Masks
Materials
Gold, Brass, Metallic Thread
Expressive Early Classic Cubist Dan Mask Early 20th Century Liberia, ex Sothebys
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Expressive early classic cubist Dan mask with refined expressive look, narrow open eyes and mouth and fine line scarification marks around outside of face. Created early 20th century by the Dan People...
Category
Early 20th Century Liberian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
1950s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Small Warrior Spirit Mask, Northwest Coast by Charlie Mickey, Nootka Nation
By Charlie Mickey
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A small warrior spirit mask
Northwest Coast
Carved and polychrome decorated mask with horse hair,
Hand carved by Charlie Mickey (1910-1988), Hesquiah...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Native American 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 Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
Woman’s Gucci Pony Hair Belt with Brass Buckle
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Woman’s Gucci pony hair belt with brass buckle.
Category
Early 2000s Masks
Materials
Brass
Japanese Antique Edo Hand Carved Wood Noh Theater Mask Otobide 17th-18th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly beautiful, wonderfully aged, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theater. The naturally faded beauty and unique character drew us to this mask immediately.
The mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood, clearly by a master of his trade.
We believe this mask is of the Noh theatre character Otobide.
This mask dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). It comes with a wooden storage box (which may have been added at a later date).
A rare, unique, and exquisite mask. Finely carved and executed. Would be a great addition to any Japanese or Asian art/artifacts collection or an eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting.
Mask dimensions: 7.7" high, 5.7" wide, 2.1" deep...
Category
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Masks
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Songye Kifwebe Mask University Museum Plaster Cast
By Songye Tribe
Located in Sharon, CT
Perfectly accurate plaster cast reproduction of perhaps the most recognizable Songye Kifwebe mask. A Pennsylvania University Museum cast of their famous mask.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Tribal Masks
Materials
Plaster
Four rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali
Located in Paris, FR
The Ntomo mask is used during initiation rituals for youths in Bamana societies of West Africa. It is recognizable by its upper part shaped like a comb, with three to eight horns sym...
Category
20th Century Malian Folk Art Masks
Materials
Shell, Wood
Japanese Antique Tengu's Face / Objet / 1868-1912s / Wabi-sabi Mingei
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is the old Tengu surface that was used in the Kyushu region of Japan.
It is thought to be from around the Meiji period.
Tengu noodles are said to be an amulet, a blessing, and...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Masks
Materials
Wood
19th Century Hand-Carved Wood Javanese ‘Wayang Topeng’ Theatre Mask, Indonesia
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. This mask is from Cirebon in Ja...
Category
19th Century Indonesian Other Antique Masks
Materials
Wood
Vintage Display Mask, African, Ironwood, Carved, Ceremonial, Tribal, Decorative
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage display mask. An African, carved ironwood ceremonial tribal mask, dating to the late 20th century.
Fascinating ridged carvings accentuate this distinctive mask
Di...
Category
Late 20th Century Malawian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
Japanese Asian Wood Shi Shi Shishi Mai Lion Dance Gashira Noh Mask Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, beautifully crafted Japanese festival Shishi Lion Dance (Shishi Mai) mask (Gashira).
The shishi mask represents a mythical lion that prote...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Set of Three, Vintage, French, Pierrot Boudoir Doll Faces from the 1920s
Located in Vienna, Austria
What a wonderful discovery, rare Pierrot doll faces from the 1920s . All three pieces are in very good condition with minor age related flaws. These fabri...
Category
1920s French Modern Vintage Masks
Materials
Textile
Collection of Handmade Mexican Folk Art Masks
Located in Atlanta, GA
Collection of Handmade Mexican Folk Art Tin Masks, Mexican, circa 1950s. Each mask is unique and extremely detailed. The largest mask measures 21"...
Category
1950s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Copper, Tin
Clay Mask, 1960s Italy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic sculptural clay mask wall art made in Italy. Hand made in an aged adobe color with a short rope which ties off on the face of the mask. Hangs from a single screw making ins...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Masks
Materials
Clay, Rope
Javanese Hand-Crafted Wayang Topeng Theatre Mask, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This early 20th century ‘Wayang topeng’ mask was used in Javanese masked dance performances.
Measures: Height with stand 47cm; Height 18cm x Width 14cm...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
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.
These masks depict jaguars and tigers used in ...
Category
1960s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Leather
Baule Painted Ram Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
The Baule people of the Ivory Coast used ram masks in secular, public performances. Realistically carved, and wonderfully decorated, they were designed to draw attention and enhance ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
Original Vintage Set of 20 Mexican Wrestling Masks
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Original Vintage Set of 20 Mexican Wrestling Masks.
Found from an old factory that manufactured masks for wrestling shows for the Arena Mex...
Category
1970s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Fabric
Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Tribal Mask from Atoni Tribe Timor
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This very flat mask originates from the Atoni people of Timor, featuring two very small eye holes. For the Timorese people masks portray both male and female ancestors, worn by warri...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
Wood
Japanese Signed Hand Carved Wood Noh Theater Mask of Doji, Early Showa Period
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theatre.
The mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood and is signed by the maker.
This mask is of the immortal character Doji who symbolizes perpetual and eternal youth ("doji" literally translates as "child") in the Noh theater world. He is portrayed as a handsome male...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood
Hand-Carved Wood Borneo Dayak Tribe Mask, Indonesia c. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This hand-carved wooden mask is from Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. It features bulging eyes and a mouth emphasised by a full set of teeth and small nose. These masks we...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
Wood
Pende-Style Antelope Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
Masks from the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are considered some of the most dramatic works of African art. The Pende have defined an extensive range of mask forms, many with distinct characters embodied during ritual ceremony. Colored by red and white pigments, this Pende mask...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
Splendid Seven rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali, 1930-1940
Located in Paris, FR
The Ntomo mask is used during initiation rituals in West Africa. It is identifiable by its horns, which range from three to eight. The Bamana, also known as the Bambara, live in Mali...
Category
1930s Malian Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Shell, Wood
Indonesian Wood Mask, Mid-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Penasar mask from Indonesia, circa 1975-1980. Hand-carved teak, polychromed in white and black. Mounted on a black metal stand.
This type of mask is used at Indonesian ...
Category
1970s Indonesian Other Vintage Masks
Materials
Teak
Antique Black Forest Folk Art Alpine Devil Dwarf Wooden Carved Mask, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful black forest Folk Art wood carved mask. This is a wonderful example of black forest carving. This can be used as a Wall decoration or as...
Category
1930s Austrian Black Forest Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Large Vintage Display Mask, African, Ironwood, Hand Carved, Ceremonial, Tribal
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large vintage display mask. An African, hand carved ironwood ceremonial tribal mask, dating to the late 20th century.
Superb decorative appeal, with a delightfully naive ...
Category
Late 20th Century Malawian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
Xantolo Mask From The Huasteca Region Of Hidalgo, Mexico, 1970´s
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Xantolo mask from the Huasteca region of Hidalgo. This rare collector's mask was acquired from the town of Tzapotitla in the municipality of Huazalingo in the mid 1970´s.
The Xantolo celebration is a full blown...
Category
1970s Mexican Tribal Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Japanese Wood "Shikami" Mask, Noh Theater, Late 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A superb Noh theater mask, hand-carved in sturdy Japanese cypress wood. The character it represents is the "Shikami", a wrathful deity.
Shikami (wry face), the grimacing face of “s...
Category
1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Masks
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Ekoi, Ejagham Janiform Headcrest, Nigeria
Located in Savannah, GA
Janiform ceremonial headdress from the Ekoi, Ejagham people of the Cross River region of Southeastern Nigeria, circa early 20th century.
The janus symbolism from the Cross River r...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Tribal Mask from Atoni Tribe Timor
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This very flat mask originates from the Atoni people of Timor. For the Timorese people masks portray both male and female ancestors, worn by warriors to scare off enemies or during c...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
Wood
African Mask with Spears 1990s
Located in Ljubljana, SI
African Mask with Spears 90s. It is a rare set.
Carved from one piece.
Spears are ultra light - height 152 cm.
Category
1990s Cameroonian Tribal Masks
Materials
Brass
20th Century Vintage Carved Wood Mask, African Folk Art
Located in Bochum, NRW
A hand carved wood wall mask, vintage from the 20th Century. African Folk Art.
Handmade and carved from a single piece of exotic wood, in a m...
Category
1970s African Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Ceramic Mask, Accolay, France, 1960s
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic Mask, Accolay, France, 1960s
Accolay was a pottery center in France, north of Burgundy, founded amongst others, by 4 students of Alexandre Kostanda. Active between 1945 and ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Masks
Materials
Ceramic
Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair
Located in Milano, IT
The African Kuba Bwoom tribal mask is the oldest known mask, the Kuba bwoom mask. The materials used for the realization of the Mask are: Wood, colors and vibrates plants, caures, beads, animal hair. In dance it expresses exuberance and joy. The style is similar to that of the middle Kasai. This mask is a helmet with animal hair, carved with a very wide forehead and hollow cheeks that are announced by motifs or dashes and beads. The mouth of the mask is very pronounced carved in wood and then applied on the mask. To distinguish the forehead in different areas are used black and white beads to draw attention to other aspects of the face such as the nose and chin. The entire edge of the chin is surrounded by beads of various colors. The person wearing the mask cannot look because there are no holes for the eyes present; the mask must create the feeling of being blind. Some masks similar to the bwoom mask include the funny mask, the ram mask and initiation masks such as Nnup.
The real Kuba masks...
Category
1620s Congolese Tribal Antique Masks
Materials
Animal Skin, Organic Material, Wood
Vintage Carved Wood Mask, African Folk Art 20th Century
Located in Bochum, NRW
A hand carved wood wall mask, vintage from the 20th Century. African Folk Art.
Handmade and carved from a single piece of exotic wood, in a manner specific to traditional African ar...
Category
1970s African Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
1950s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Set of 4 Vintage Mexican Wrestling Fighters Figures
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this fantastic set of 4 Mexican wrestling fighters, made in plastic and hand painted, circa 1970. Excellent vintage conditions.
Category
1970s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Plastic, Paint
Fine Chinese Carved Wooden Face Mask, ca 1900-1940
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Ca 1900-1940 Fine Chinese Carved Wooden Face Mask China.
Additional information:
Material: Wood
Region of Origin: China
Period: 19th century
China Dynasty Period: Qing (1661 - 1912)...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Masks
Materials
Wood
Hand-Carved Wood Javanese ‘Wayang Topeng’ Theatre Mask, Indonesia, 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This mid-20th century ‘Wayang topeng’ mask was used in Javanese masked dance performances. This mask features a bright mix of red, yellow, white & blue pol...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Other Masks
Materials
Wood
Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950
Located in Paris, FR
The Senoufo people inhabit areas spanning southern Mali, southern Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. They are organized around the poro, a male initiation system where young boys learn their social and religious roles in sacred woods, away from the village. Initiation ceremonies can last up to twenty-one years, and ritual objects are carved by specialized artisans.
The Kpélié mask...
Category
1950s Ivorian Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and powerfully carved Ceremonial Mask from New Guinea. In mineral paints with Cowrie Shell Eyes. Collected in Kaminabit, Middle Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea.
The Mei is t...
Category
20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
A woven wicker donkey head wall mask – 1970s - France
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A beautiful wall mask made from woven esparto grass, depicting a donkey’s head. This rare piece of folk art from the South of France dates back to the 1970s. Entirely handcrafted, it...
Category
1970s French French Provincial Vintage Masks
Materials
Natural Fiber
Folk Art Mid-Century Modern Blown Red Art Glass Face Masks, México
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Folk Art blown red glass face masks made in México.
O-602-335
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Masks
Materials
Blown Glass
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 fr...
Category
1940s Mexican Tribal Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Japanese Signed Hand Carved Wood Noh Theater Omi-Onna Mask with Custom Box 1900s
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring female mask made for the Japanese Noh theatre.
This mask is handcrafted and carved from natural wood and lacquer.
Omi-Onna's (...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
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.
Category
1970s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Masks
Materials
Wood
Antique African Carved Toma Landai Tribal Ceremonial Mask Guinea Art Horns
Located in Dayton, OH
Early antique hand carved Toma or Landai mask from Guinea, Africa. “These brooding, often quite large, masks represent a forest spirit, Landai. Masks lik...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Masks
Materials
Raffia, Hardwood
Ancestral Dan Mask 'Deangle' with Cowrie Shells Large
Located in Torquay, GB
Large sized Dan Mask ('Deangle', 'Dan Gle') from Côte d’Ivoire W.Affrica, circa early 20th century.
To the Dan people, the 'Deangle' embodies the spirit of an individual ancestor d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
African Dan Yakuba Guard Mask Small Shells and Bells from the Ivory Coast 1970s
Located in Salzburg, AT
African Dan Yakuba Guard Mask Small Shells and Bells from the Ivory Coast 1970s
Female wooden mask with rich decoration of textile elements, small shells and ceramic beads.
The mouth...
Category
1970s Ivorian Tribal Vintage Masks
Materials
Iron
Japanese Antique Tengu's Face / Objet / 1868-1912s / Wabi-sabi Mingei
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is the old Tengu surface that was used in the Kyushu region of Japan.
It is thought to be from around the Meiji period.
Tengu noodles are said to be an amulet, a blessing, and...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Masks
Materials
Wood
An Impressive Primitive Ceramic Mask by Les Potiers D'Accolay France 1970's
Located in HYÈRES, FR
An Impressive Primitive Ceramic Mask by Les Potiers D'Accolay France 1970's
Rare piece of this size.
Nice colors.
Signed " Accolay " in the back.
In good condition.
Category
1970s French Vintage Masks
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century Japanese Meiji Iki mask
Located in London, GB
19th Century Japanese Meiji Iki mask
A Japanese Meiji period Iki mask dated from the late 19th Century, depicting a dynamic expressive human face, with glass eyes and hair and a burn...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Victorian Antique Masks
Materials
Gesso, Wood
Vintage Mexican Wrestling Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Vintage Mexican wrestling mask.
Category
1990s Mexican Folk Art Masks
Materials
Fabric
Japanese Signed Hand Carved Wood Noh Theater Mask of Chujo, Early Showa Period
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theatre.
The mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood and is signed by the maker, clearly a mast...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Signed Terracotta “Greek Theater” Mask
Located in Bradenton, FL
A handmade terracotta pottery art ‘Greek Theatre’ style mask. Angular features are decorated with cerulean blue and olive-green highlights. Arched eyebrows give the look of cat ears,...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Masks
Materials
Terracotta
Rustic Antique Wooden Carved Burmese Puppet Head
Located in Stockbridge, GB
Antique Burmese Carved Puppet Head- A
A decorative carved wood and painted Burmese puppet head with glass eyes. Believed to be from the 19th century. It ...
Category
19th Century Burmese Rustic Antique Masks
Materials
Teak
Japanese Signed Showa Carved Wood Kyogen Noh Theater Raccoon Dog Tanuki Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, quite engaging mask made for Japanese Kyogen Noh theatre.
This mask is quite rare much like the Kitsune fox mask which this is sometimes confused f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Old Igbo Helmet Mask, Agbogho Mmuo Masquerade
Located in Torquay, GB
A superb Igbo Nigeria helmet mask 'Agbogho Mmuo" or Maiden Spirit.
Worn as masqurades during funerals, cleansing rituals, harvest festivals, weddings and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Dance mask, Kifwebe, Songye, Congo
By Songye Tribe
Located in Stockholm, SE
Dance mask/ sculpture. Known as a Kifwebe mask. Songye. Carved wood. 20th century.
With a few flaws and repairs.
Category
20th Century Congolese Masks
Materials
Wood
Antique Chokwe Mask, Central African, Carved Hardwood, Tribal, Victorian, C.1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Chokwe mask. A Central African, carved hardwood tribal face mask, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Fascinating t...
Category
Late 19th Century African Late Victorian Antique Masks
Materials
Hardwood
Large Woven Painted Basketry Wall Mask Blackwater Rivers, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Large woven painted basketry wall mask created in Blackwater Rivers area, Papua New Guinea. With open expressive mouth and mask fringed with feathers, striking mask that easily hang...
Category
Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Masks
Materials
Organic Material
Antique and Vintage Masks
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.