Old hand carved wood mask identification

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by MjW, Jun 12, 2020.

  1. MjW

    MjW New Member

    Looking for help identifying this old hand carved wood mask please. Curious about place of origin, age and value???
    I have attached a few pics.
    Thank you for your time!
     

    Attached Files:

    KikoBlueEyes and johnnycb09 like this.
  2. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Looks like a moros y cristianos mask from México to me (although I've not seen one unpainted.) Let's see what others think.

    Debora
     
  3. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    AND WELCOME to ANTIQUERS, @MjW!!! But you'll have to wait for others on your mask!!:):)
     
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  4. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Apologies, MjW, for my terrible manners. Didn't see that you were a new member. Welcome!

    Debora
     
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  5. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Welcome. I don't understand the holes above the eyes and no hole to get air in to breathe. It looks like a decoration to me, but I have zilch knowledge about masks so this is just an observation.
     
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  6. smallaxe

    smallaxe Well-Known Member

    I wonder if the holes above the eyes once sported horns.
     
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  7. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

  8. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Here's an old moros y cristianos mask. Also has holes above the "eyes."

    Debora

    ft7x0nb536_00060.jpg
     
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    upload_2020-6-12_13-27-10.jpeg maybe Guatemala is a better bet...........
    Conquistador ..
    pedro de Alvarado
     
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  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  11. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    I think you've got it.

    Debora
     
  12. smallaxe

    smallaxe Well-Known Member

    From and extensive blog about Mexican dance masks (sadly the author of the site passed away last March) is a post about diablo masks of Guatamala.

    The next mask is one that seems prone to mislead. At first glance one sees a pair of eyes and then a pair of round holes at a higher level, just as one expects for a Guatemalan mask. Then one notices that there are vision slits over the carved eyes, while the round holes are unlikely to be a third set of eyes. Furthermore, the round holes are tapered. This is a Diablo mask that has lost its horns.
    But looking at other masks, it looks more like the mask used in the conquest dance (Español mask). In that case the holes where the eyes are may be decoration, and the holes above are for the wearer to see out of. If you hold it up to your face, which holes match your eyes?
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2020
    2manybooks, KikoBlueEyes and antidiem like this.
  13. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

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