Featured Mask ?

I figure this to be Mexican, about 50 years old. Wanted to know what is being symbolized. . . it's 33" tall and pretty nicely painted, shows slight wear.

 

3 bloodsuckers? Vampire bat; demon; Spanish conquistador?

 

Material? Anything interesting on the back?

 

The bottom figure is likely what is called a cristiano or Christian. In other words, a Spaniard. The figure above appears to be a diablo or devil. And at the very top is a murciélago or bat. Mexican masks can be very specific to regional dances but yours appears to have been made to display rather than wear. Still, worth investigating as quality high.

Debora

 

Are there eye slits?
Patd

 

i doubt it at 33 inches....more of a totem pole ..

 

Very nice carving.
The symbolism has links with pre-Columbian religions. Elements of these religions have become part of Mexican Catholicism.
The top figure could be a chupacabra, the mythical vampire bat/goatsucker.
The demonic looking central figure has a bat on the lower part of his face. Bat demons and bat Gods feature in many ancient Mexican religions.
The Cristiano with the two snakes probably has a special meaning as well. Serpents are an important part of Mexican religions

 

Plastic? Plaster? Resin? Like to know the material, if u aren’t sure post pix of back and bottom.

 

Carved wood, no eye slits, semi circular in shape like a mask

 

To me it looks like a wonderful quality touristic production because it uses all possible symbols associated with Mexican visual culture, but not in a syncretic way, but rather as a mix. Also the style of the woodcarving is very similar to what you can buy in touristic areas.

 

I agree....well carved & you don't see a Chupacabra often......
still a tourist item.....but better than most..

 

Thanks for the replies. . . very helpful.

 

Just to add that the pre-Hispanic references must be most of all Mayan, because the kind of a small version of a "totem poll" either in stone or ceramics was proper for Mayan culture since BC. This even provoked a theory about the exchange, either by migration or trade with North American Indians. http://www.precolombino.cl/en/coleccion/columna-antropomorfa-policroma/
Then the chupacabra should be Camazotz, the Mayan deity of death.
https://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/camazotz-the-death-bat/

 

Update & correction; I had previously stated that this piece had no eye opening slits, but in fact it does - between the eyes and eyebrow of the middle dialblo (devil) portion it has them, but they are 4 3/8" apart (center to center) which seems a bit wide for use as any kind of mask. It also has a small hole behind each ear of devil portion for what looks like a way to secure for use or to hang. At 33" tall, it would be awkward to wear. At any rate, it really gets your attention when you enter the room and see it.