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Wood Masks

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Material: Wood
Contemporary Folk Art Style Wood Mask
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional hand carved wood mask with graphic elements, made of a single piece of wood and was made for decorative purposes. Very intriguing and...
Category

20th Century African Wood Masks

Materials

Lucite, 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, 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 Wood 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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Pacific Northwest Native Raven Sculpture by Emile Thibert
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pacific Northwest native raven sculpture by Emile Thibert, Canadian, circa 1990s. Signed and dedicated to the original owners underneath. Emile Thiber...
Category

1990s Canadian Native American Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Running Mask Danh Tribe
Located in Dallas, TX
This wooden Gonveia mask is handmade in the Danh Tribe Tradition. Mask is on an iron stand.
Category

Mid-20th Century Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Masks
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Pacific Northwest Native style masks, hand carved and painted by sculptor, circa 1990s. They measure: Top row, left to right: 9"H...
Category

1990s Canadian Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

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 Mexico. Has clear signs of use and age so we are estimating early to mid-20th century. Would make for a terrific addition to any folk or tribal mask collection...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Carved Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western and South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to the Inuit peoples, have a long history of ceremonial mask making. Yup'ik masks were originally and specifically designed by Shamans and made to be worn by these spiritual leaders in winter tribal dances and sacred ceremonies. Traditionally, the masks were destroyed or discarded after use in these ceremonies. Very few of these masks survived. After Christian contact in the late 19th century, masked dancing was suppressed and the tradition all but died out. As more outsiders settled in Alaska at the turn of the century, masks were made by the Yup'ik people to sell or trade for necessary goods. It is likely that this mask was created some years later for this purpose. In the 20th century, Yup'ik mask had a profound influence on many renowned surrealist artists including, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Leonora Carrington, Victor Brauner, and most notably Andre Breton who was an avid collector of Yup'ik masks. This fantastic anthropomorphic mask is carved of lighter wood, hand painted and decorated with pigment, and held together with natural fiber. A native bird can see seen attached to the smiling figure's chin. The mask is from a French collection. We were told that this mask, as well as others in the collection we have listed, was acquired originally in the 1950s-1960s in Alaska and the Yukon territory in Canada but as we have no way to verify or authenticate this. Please note we are listing the masks as decorative and not as actual tribal artifacts...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood, Paint

Yoruba Egungun Headdress Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
Attributed to the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, this wooden headdress was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a comm...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Indonesian Wood Mask, Mid-20th Century
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...
Category

1970s Indonesian Tribal Vintage Wood Masks

Materials

Teak

Egyptian Mummy Mask, Late Period, ca. 700-30 B.C.
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Carved hardwood mummy mask having a pink-brown painted ground, painted black eyes and brows. Wearing a black headband. Eyes and brows are restored. Scattere...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Antique Wood Masks

Materials

Hardwood

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Carved Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic and somewhat playful mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western & South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to the Inuit peoples, have a long history of ceremonial mask making. Yup'ik masks were originally and specifically designed by Shamans and made to be worn by these spiritual leaders in Winter tribal dances and sacred ceremonies. Traditionally, the masks were destroyed or discarded after use in these ceremonies. Very few of these masks survived. After Christian contact in the late 19th century, masked dancing was suppressed and the tradition all but died out. As more outsiders settled in Alaska at the turn of the century, masks were made by the Yup'ik people to sell or trade for necessary goods. It is likely that this mask was created some years later for this purpose. In the 20th century, Yup'ik mask had a profound influence on many renowned surrealist artists including, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Leonora Carrington, Victor Brauner, and most notably Andre Breton who was an avid collector of Yup'ik masks. This fantastic anthropomorphic mask is carved of lighter wood, hand painted and decorated with pigment, and held together with natural fiber. The mask seems to represent some sort of smiling, benevolent spirit or character with its four eyes, bird beak, and cat-like ears. The mask is from a French collection. We were told that this mask, as well as others in the collection we have listed, was acquired originally in the 1950s-1960s in Alaska and the Yukon territory in Canada but as we have no way to verify or authenticate this. Please note we are listing the masks as decorative and not as actual tribal artifacts...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint, Natural Fiber

Set of 3 Hand-Carved Wood Madura Island Ceremonial Masks, Indonesia, c. 1950
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This set of 3 mid-20th century mask were sed on the island of Madura for ceremonial purposes. The island of Madura is situated off the north-eastern coast of Java. This mask features...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indonesian Other Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Opera Mask
Located in New York, NY
A distinctive 19th century pine wood Chinese opera mask. From Hunan Province, circa 1880. A fun piece. M518
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Wood Masks

Materials

Pine

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Mid 20th Century Hand Carved African Fertility Mask, Akan People
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very decorative fertility mask by the Baule tribe, associated with the Akan people who live both in Ghana and in the Ivory Coast. The sides with three...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Carved Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic and somewhat grotesquely strange mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western & South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to t...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood, Paint

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Oro Efe Gelede Mask, Nigeria
Located in Antwerp, BE
The Gelede spectacle of the Yoruba is a public display by colorful masks which combines art and ritual dance to amuse, educate and inspire worship. Gelede celebrates “Mothers” (awon iya wa), a group that includes female ancestors and deities as well as the elderly women of the community, and the power and spiritual capacity these women have in society. However, this power may also be destructive and take the form of witchcraft; therefore, Gelede serves the function of appeasing this power, as well. Gelede costume and headdress. Gelede masks...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Teak

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Carved Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fascinating mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western & South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to the Inuit peoples, have a ...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood, Paint

African Nafana Bedu Plank Mask Goli Tribal Ceremonial Shield Ghana Coast
Located in Dayton, OH
"Mid century carved African Nefana Bedu plank mask sculpture. This wooden plank mask is large and geometrical in form. It was worn over the face with its extremities towering way above the head. The lower part of the mask is spade-shaped and pierced at the center with three holes to allow the wearer to see out and with a third hole for the mouth. Its crest is surmounted by a large circular horn or disk. This group of masks are known as Bedu by the Nafana people who make and use them for ritual use. Measure: 74" Such plank masks are among the largest masks in Africa. The form of the Bedu mask...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Baule Male Ndoma Portrait Mask on Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
To relieve stress and uplift their Community, the Baule people of modern-day Côte d'Ivoire engage in a daylong masquerade known as the Mblo. A series of dances that escalate in compl...
Category

20th Century Ivorian Tribal Wood 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. This mask features a beige and white polychrome finish with hi...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wood Painted and Pigmented Primitive Tribal Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
An interesting piece. Quite unique. We are at a loss to what region this might be from. The facial features are very pronounced and the mask has been nicely colored with various pigments. The mask has some age to it and a nice patina. We are listing as early to mid-20th century but it could very well be older. From a collection of tribal artifacts...
Category

Early 20th Century Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Javanese ‘Wayang Topeng’ Theatre Mask, Indonesia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This early 20th century ‘Wayang topeng’ mask was used in Javanese masked dance performances. This mask features a black and green polychrome finish on its ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Carved Tribal Mask from Pacific Northwest Coast by David Frankel
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking carved and painted mask in the tradition of the Native Indian tribes from Pacific Northwest Coast by David Frankel in 1994. The mask...
Category

1990s American Native American Wood Masks

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Spirit Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic, somewhat sinister appearing mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western & South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to the I...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Javanese 'Wayang Topeng", Theatre Mask, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This mask from Java depicts a mythical creature which would have been used in ‘Wayang Topeng’ dance performances. It features handles which are used to open and close the creatures m...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Noh Edo Period Lion Mask II
Located in Pasadena, CA
This another superb example of an Edo Period early 18th century or earlier Lion Mask created for the Lion Dances of the Gion Matsuri Festival. The mask is i...
Category

Early 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Javanese ‘Wayang Topeng’ Mask, Indonesia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This bright orange mask depicts a mythical being inspired by Javanese folklore. It was used in masked performances known as ‘wayang topeng’. The mask’s age is present in the fading o...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Wood 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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Animal Skin, Organic Material, Wood

Javanese 'Wayang Topeng", Theatre Mask, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This mask from Java depicts a mythical creature which would have been used in ‘Wayang Topeng’ dance performances. It features handles which are used to open and close the creatures m...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Bidjogo Tribal Initiation Ox Mask, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
After oxen were introduced to Guinea Bissau by Portuguese sailors in the 15th century, its strength, aggression, and nobility quickly became integrated i...
Category

Early 20th Century Guinea-Bissauan Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Hide, Wood

Large Basketry Gable Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in Highland, IN
A beautiful and large example of Oceanic art, this delightful woven mask would have been used on the gable of a middle Sepik meeting house. The wildly expressive form is accentuated ...
Category

1940s Papua New Guinean Tribal Vintage Wood Masks

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Wood

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Spirit Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, somewhat benevolent mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western & South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to the Inuit peoples, have a long history of ceremonial mask making. Yup'ik masks were originally and specifically designed by Shamans and made to be worn by these spiritual leaders in Winter tribal dances and sacred ceremonies. Traditionally, the masks were destroyed or discarded after use in these ceremonies. Very few of these masks survived. After Christian contact in the late 19th century, masked dancing was suppressed and the tradition all but died out. As more outsiders settled in Alaska at the turn of the century, masks were made by the Yup'ik people to sell or trade for necessary goods. It is likely that this mask was created some years later for this purpose. In the 20th century, Yup'ik mask had a profound influence on many renowned surrealist artists including, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Leonora Carrington, Victor Brauner, and most notably Andre Breton who was an avid collector of Yup'ik masks. This fantastic anthropomorphic mask is carved of lighter wood and hand painted/ decorated with pigment. The mask seems to represent some sort of smiling, benevolent spirit or character. The mask is from a French collection. We were told that this mask, as well as others in the collection we have listed, was acquired originally in the 1950s-1960s in Alaska and the Yukon territory in Canada but as we have no way to verify or authenticate this. Please note we are listing the masks as decorative and not as actual tribal artifacts...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

20th Century North West Coast Tribal Mask Stan Hunt Signed
By Stan Hunt
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th Century North West Coast Mask Stan Hunt Signed A striking, graphic mask in the immediately identifiable North West Coast style. A Classic image ...
Category

1970s Canadian Other Vintage Wood Masks

Materials

Cedar, Paint

Yupik Yup'ik Native American Alaska Polychrome Wood Anthropomorphic Spirit Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, somewhat benevolent mask by the Yup'ik (Yupik) aboriginal, indigenous people of South-Western & South Central Alaska. The Yup'ik people, who are related to the Inuit peo...
Category

20th Century American Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Carved and Painted Wood Architectural Element in the Form of a Mask "Green Man"
Located in Stamford, CT
A carved and painted wood "Green Man" mask from a facade of a mansion near Seattle, late 19th century. The Green Man is a legendary being primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebir...
Category

1890s American Folk Art Antique Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Japanese Theatre Mitsumekozo Theatre Mask Meiji Period, circa 1900
Located in Prahran, Victoria
Unusual Japanese Folk Art theatre mask depicting the playful character Mitsumekozo, a three eyed goblin often portrayed as a mischevious creature in comical plays, late Meiji period,...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Large Tribal Shield
Located in Sheffield, MA
Highly decorative and impressive shields from the buttress-like roots and/or trunks of mangrove trees. The soft mangrove wood is well suited to be proces...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

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 Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Nocturnal Bird Mask, Nigeria, Africa, circa 1950
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Very beautiful mask with large pronounced eyes with the circular cavity shape. The mask depicts a nocturnal bird that can see in the darkness and manifest the presence of divinities ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Carved Wood African Headdress on Later Iron Stand
Located in Buchanan, MI
Carved wood African headdress on later iron stand.
Category

20th Century African Wood Masks

Materials

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...
Category

20th Century Swiss Tribal Wood Masks

Materials

Bone, Wood

19th Century Chinese Mask
Located in New York, NY
A beautifully carved early 19th Century Chinese mask with traces of original color. From Hunan Province.
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Wood Masks

Materials

Pine

Painted Mexican Jaguar Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
The Jaguar Mask is an essential component of traditional Mexican dance and ritual, symbolizing power and ferocity. This particular mask hails from the state of Guerrero, Mexico known...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

Asian Buddha Mask on Karl Springer Custom Base
Located in New York, NY
Asian monumental silvered wood Hotei Buddha head mask upon a custom lacquer31ed wood base by Karl Springer (German/American, 1931-1991). Dealer: S138XX
Category

Late 20th Century North American Chinoiserie Wood Masks

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Pacific Northwest Coast Carved and Polychromed Wooden Mask, Early 20th Century
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Pacific Northwest Coast Carved and Polychromed Wooden Mask, almost certainly Yup'ik, early 20th Century, an oval wooden face with reces...
Category

Early 20th Century American Native American Wood Masks

Materials

Wood

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