This is a Mexican source for quality ceremonial dance masks.

Antique Mexican Dance Masks Part 1

Part 1 of 3 (Masks 1-50)

Scroll down to see the Mexican masks that are for sale. Comment on Mexican Masks: Most of the masks offered here were purchased in a region taken in by the states of Veracruz and Puebla. An occasional mask might appear from nearby states. I live a ten to fifteen hour drive from the region. I enjoy seaching the region myself and also utilize pickers that I trust from the region. The masks have all danced a number of dances in their times and are not mere wall decorations, nor have they only been danced "once around the block." Age estimates are are just that - and are sometimes difficult in the cases where I did not have contact with the original dancers. You might be able to better judge the ages by viewing the enlargements that also present the reverse sides. Some bear fresh paint. It is not unusual that the masks get fresh coats of paint each year at the festival time. I seldom do any cleaning to the masks. Some of the masks might have been cleaned with a damp or oily rag by a picker or the original owner. I would not purchase a mask if there were signs of intentional aging. I also avoid purchasing masks if insect damage is serious. I have not been seeing live insect activity in any of the masks but as a precautionary measure, I have been rotating all of the masks through the same freezing process that many large museums utilize for their collections of masks and other organic pieces.. For this purpose I have purchased a chest-type freezer that cools below zero degrees fahrenheit. To facilitate the inspection process during the freezing procedure, I will fill any evident insect holes with a clear wax. I am not knowledgeable as to the names given a particular dance for all the different masks. These are used masks and I find it difficult to describe every crack and knick, so observe the pictures closely. I usually have additional information on specific masks which is available upon request.
Pricing: All prices listed are in U.S. dollars. There are no quantity discounts except in the shipping charges which are detailed next.
Shipping and Handling: The cost of shipping from Mexico to other countries is expensive. Shipping charges are listed for single-mask purchases going to the United States. To calculate shipping for multiple purchases to be shipped in the same box, take the listed shipping cost of the most costly to ship and add only one-half the cost of shipping each additional mask. I actually pay more than these amounts. Shipping to destinations other than the United States entails other expenses--so these charges would have to be worked out on an individual basis. Recently, unless there are delays at customs, delivery has taken only a few days.
No return of purchase is practical because of many complications that would arise in attempting to ship the item back to Mexico from outside the country. As much as I would like to offer a satisfaction guaranteed policy, I unfortunately cannot do it. Study the descriptions and pictures carefully. Feel free to ask questions. I will be honest and cooperative with you in all my responses--but once you receive the item it cannot be returned. Once that you have done business with me, I am confident that you will appreciate the quality merchandise and service that you will receive. You might want to read the feedback that happy eBay customers have posted on my behalf.
Electronic Direct Purchase: Return to the Home Page for additional purchase information with simple payment instructions. You may pay through PayPal.


Last Mexican mask update: 8 May 2008

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click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 1 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years old CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 520 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The carver of this great mask died in 1996. I have owned very large masks by this carver but I especially like this smaller, but normal size mask. The small size puts a lot of detail in a smaller space. The carver was born in 1921 and executed his works in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Santiago Dance Horse, Mask Accessory 2 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood with leather, human hair and string and bell embellishments. The lenses of the eyes seem to be clear plastic. APPROXIMATE SIZE: At its largest points, the horse measures 22 inches tall and 32 inches long, front hooves to back hooves. 16 inch loop diameter. ESTIMATED AGE: 25+ years CONDITION: good-- signs of various repaintings. As seen in the enlargement of the head, one of the ears is missing a tip. This does not look out of character to the piece. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 2,000 dollars SHIPPING: $150 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Inside the hoop where the rider stands, the back part of the inside front of the horse is lined with leather as is the front of the backside. That is, more or less, where the front and back of a saddle would be The horse can be disassembled into at least two parts. The front two ends of the hoop are simply slid into two slits on each side of the front of the horse. If I were to permanently display the horse, I would probably secure--perhaps by gluing the two ends into their respective slits. The horse is somewhat middle heavy and when standing on a slick surface, the front and back hooves slide apart some because of lack of rigidly. As a precaution that the horse does not separate completely and fall, it needs some type of stability added as I mentioned. A very good option would to be to hang the horse from the ceiling and in doing so stabilize at several points. The horse was found in the Sierra de Coatzintla which is in the state of Veracruz. In 1990 the father of the last owner, in a trade, acquired the already used horse by giving a hog which in that day was worth about 600,000 pesos, today being worth about 57 USD. The man that sold us the horse is now 68 years old. When his father died about three years ago the bell that was around the neck never appeared. I have added a round antique bell that is most likely the same type as the original bell that was lost.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 3 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 13 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 460 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This well executed mask is from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. We purchased this clown mask from an elderly huehue dancer. We were told in the community that that the mask had survived three previous elderly owners that had passed away. The mask carver died in 2003. The wife and son of the carver confirmed that the mask was approximately 13 years of age.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 4 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 x 9 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20+ years CONDITION: good-- with fallen paint and repainted areas and paint stabilization with clear varnish. There is a verical thin-line crack coming down from near the top string hole, terminating beteen the nose and an eye. As an extension of the crack, evident in the pictures is a cut out area between the nose and the eye. This is a good, solid mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 360 dollars SHIPPING: $34 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was danced in the northeastern highlands of Puebla. It was said to have been usedin carnival dances of a small village near the place that we found it.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 6 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 70+ years old CONDITION: fair -- with a crack evident in both enlargements. It is on the forehead between the top string hole and the top of the nose. There are dings showing paint loss where typically found on much used masks -- the tip of the nose and chin. This is a sturdy mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 425 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The original owner of this very worn old mask would be 85 years old if still living today. His old friends said that the mask might very well be older than my minimum estimate of 70 years since the deceased man might have obtained the mask already used. It is a female character used in the dance of the huehues. The mask was found in the state of Veracruz close to the border with the state of Puebla.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 7 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 71/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years CONDITION: good--more below with additional comments PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 550 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the northeastern highlands of Puebla. The old mask has an articulated jaw with the lower jaw being held in place by small strips of rubber. The wrinkled lines all over the face are carved rather than painted. There remains several dozen holes sprinkled over the hair and beard regions. At one time these small holes would have anchored small tufts of hair into the face. The previous owner of this mask was fifty-five years old and his father had danced the mask. Once his father was drunk and broke the mask. Long ago it was sturdily repaired. Looking at the enlargement of the first picture, over the eye closest to the camera, you can detect the repaired break running down beside the nose, on down to the mouth.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 8 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 7 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 5 years old CONDITION: excellent PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: When we visited this carver's home, we found that he had no used masks for sale . It was an act of discipline to refuse purchase his new masks. After some conversation and and asking him to help us find some of his old masks he of course asked what we were paying. He then opened a box of about ten masks that he was in process of restoring for an entire dance group. He had already done the scraping of the old paint. he agreed to refinish two of the used mask for us and replace them with two new ones for the dance group. We returned in about four days and picked up the beauties. On the inside of the mask, notice the beautiful carved out nose indentation. Refugio, the name of the dancer is written under the left eye. The mask comes from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 9 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: face measures 7 1/2 X 8 inches -- tip of tongue to tip of horns is 13 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: good--a high gloss transparent varnish seems to have been added to stabilize the paint. This also brings out the color and the charm. From the back side I notice a nail head in the rim of the chin. Even though there is a small crack where the nail enters, the crack might have been made by the nail itself because it does not seem to be there to hold the wood together. It might have at one time fastened a beard? PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This devil mask comes from the state of Veracruz bordering the state of Puebla. I was told that it was used in the dance of the huehues.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 10 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years CONDITION: poor-- a sturdy mask with a lot of missing paint but it still holds its shape. For instance, the nose is all there but missiing the paint from the tip. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 180 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This old mask was found in the State of Veracruz, not far from the Gulf Coast. The wood on the back side shows beautiful patina. The blue adds some color to a collection that might be dominated by reds and pinks.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 11 MATERIAL: Carved and painted equimite, a light wood with leather ears APPROXIMATE SIZE: Head is 6 x 9 inches--horns, tip to tip 14 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 8 years CONDITION: very good--slight chip off top of tongue evident in enlargement PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $280 dollars SHIPPING: $60 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Veracruz. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 12 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with horse hair facial hair and a paper flower on each cheek APPROXIMATE SIZE: 8 3/4 X 9 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years old CONDITION: good--the white arrows indicate a crack as pointed out by the arrows in the teeth and upper lip on the masks right side. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 450 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This very large mask comes from the state of Veracruz close to the highlands of the state of Puebla. There are four eye holes, one in each pupil and one in each eye close to the nose.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Santiago Dance Horse, Mask Accessory 13 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood -- with what appears to be human hair for the mane and tail, and woven string embellishments as seen in the photos APPROXIMATE SIZE: 9 1/2 inches tall at the neck. 31 inches nose to tail. 17 inches loop diameter. ESTIMATED AGE: 30+ years CONDITION: good -- there was evidence that someone had once filled in prior insect damage to the hoop. There was no sign of present insect activity but as a precaution, I gave it the deep freeze treatment. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 950 dollars SHIPPING: $ 80 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This Santiago dance horse comes from the state of Puebla. It is the small variety that is used in the northeastern highlands region. The dancer depicting Santiago Matamoros (patron saint of the Spainards and conquistadores) stands inside the loop which would have been held up by suspender-type cords under the dancer's costume. The horse will be disassembled into three parts for shipment. The last picture shows how the horse appears without its hoop. In that picture, I temporarily joined the front and back sections of the horses body. To reassemble the front and back sections to the hoop, it is a simple matter of reinserting the four original screws that will be included. The horse probably once had a bell fastened around its neck. I have replaced that bell with an antique brass bell that I happened to have.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 14 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 23 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 350 dollars SHIPPING: $ 34 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This unusual negrito mask was collected in the northeastern highlands region of the state of Puebla. The sides are very deep. The ears are carved directly into the sides -- most of the negritos that I come in contact with do not have ears. This one even has side-burns. There is a fourth string hole at the bottom of the back. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 15 MATERIAL: Carved and painted equimite, a light wood with rubber ears APPROXIMATE SIZE: head is 7 X 9 inches--tip to tip horns are 18 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $270 dollars SHIPPING: $60 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Veracruz. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 16 MATERIAL: carved and painted light wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 1/2 X 9 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: Very good -- There were some tiny worm holes but I saw no evidence of recent insect activity. I did fill the holes with wax and gave the mask a two week stay in the freezer to make sure that no crawlers are still around. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This large mask was found in the state of Veracruz. It is a very well carved mask The mask is called el mandarino because of its Chinese features. The wood is light but the back shows a very nice patina. This is really a made-to-dance mask. It fits well and has seven string holes to hold it to the face.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 17 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with goat hide used for the facial hair APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 19 years old CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 360 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This negrito mask comes from the norteastern highlands of the state of Puebla. It was made by a known carver.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 18 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 45 years CONDITION: good -- As with many much used masks, the paint is worn from the very tip of the nose. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 425 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This pretty female huehue was carved by a known carver in the state of Veracruz not far from the border with the state of Puebla.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 19 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with tuft of black human hair in middle of forehead APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7/1/2inches ESTIMATED AGE: 15 years CONDITION: good--fallen paint but stabilized with evidence of several coats of paint PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the state of Veracruz bordering the state of Puebla. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 20 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the highlands of the state of Puebla. It was used in the dance of the huehues. It was executed by a known carver. The last picture shows how a ridge is formed under the wearer's chin and a second ridge is below that at the termination of the backside of the beard. One of the characteristics of this carver is that he carves in a realistic curved eyeball for each eye before applying the paint--as opposed to merely panting the eyes over the surface of the face.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 21 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 6 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 40 CONDITION: excellent PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 480 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: It is always a joy to find masks of this known carver who has been dead for many years. The circumstances of the purchase and beauty of the surroundings adds to the appreciation of many of these masks. We purchased this Santiago mask from a typical Indian family of the region. The home of the elderly lady that showed us the mask was as immaculate as the mask itself. We did not have an indigenous interpreter with us so we used the scant Spanish speaking skills of some of the young ladies who gathered around us from the surrounding huts. A grandson was sent for the father who was working the field. While waiting, there was time to contemplate the surrounding mountains over the beautiful flowers of the lady's yard. This, while listening to the native Indian music beamed over the radio from a far away station in Cuetzalan. The owner of the mask was a man in his eighties who said that he still danced. He told that he would part with the mask but that he would ask a very high price. We were more than happy to pay that price. The colorful cloth draping under the chin of the mask is called catunga.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 23 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 9 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 280 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This negrito mask was found in the state of Veracruz. I have the name of the carver. ..


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 24 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 6 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 280 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was purchased in the state of Veracruz. In the region where it was danced (Santiago Dance), it is called hormega which is probably a corruption of the word, hormiga (ant) because of its red color I assume. No one seems to have known the origin of the word. Most all of the hormega masks that I saw had the pinocchio type nose.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 25 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood and cow horn APPROXIMATE SIZE: face is 6 1/2 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was collected in the stateof Vercruz. Carved inside the back is the word Xochitlán. There are villages of that name in several states but the one in the state of Puebla is the closest.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Santiago Dance Horse, Mask Accessory 26 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood -- with what appears to be horse hair for the mane and tail, and ribbons for the bridle. The bell around the neck is a replacement. APPROXIMATE SIZE: 10 inches tall at the neck. 29 inches nose to rear hoof. 12 inch loop diameter. ESTIMATED AGE: 38 years CONDITION: good -- there is indication that the right rear leg was repaired, the paint being a slightly different shade. The bell is a replacement as is the hoop. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 750 dollars SHIPPING: $ 140 (It will be shipped fully assembled.) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This Santiago dance horse comes from the state of Puebla. It is the small variety that is used in the northeastern highlands region. The dancer depicting Santiago Matamoros (patron saint of the Spainards and conquistadores) stands inside the hoop which would have been held up by suspender-type cords under the dancer's costume. The original hoop was broken and unrepairable. My carpenter spent two days making a very nice replacement loop. We purchased the horse from the person that had been using the horse most of his life. The owner could not find the bell so I replaced it with one as he described. Before shipping, I will remove the two suspension wires that might be visible in the pictures.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 27 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 45 years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 450 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This clown mask was made by a known and deceased carver in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. We purchased the mask from a dancer that was around 80 years old. There was about an inch wide chunk that was missing from the rim behind the chin. We asked him if he still had the piece and by miracle, after much searching, he found it. The enlargement of the back side will show where I glued the piece to its original place.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 28 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/4 X 6 1/2 inches and 5 1/2 inches from back to tip of snout ESTIMATED AGE: 5 years old CONDITION: good -- the ears are old leather replacements tied on with string PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $230 dollars SHIPPING: $34 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This dog mask comes from the state of Veracruz where it was used as an adjunct to the dance of the huehues.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 29 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 6 3/4 ESTIMATED AGE: 4 years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 170 dollars SHIPPING: $34 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The mas wask used in the dance of the huehues in the state of Veracruz. It has an unusual carved moustache and well-detailed carving in the hair. The previous owner had sanded out the stains and rough spots from inside the forehead.--seen as light-colored in the picture of the back of the mask.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 30 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 3/4 X 10 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 18 years -- carver died in 1996 CONDITION: very good -- paint worn off on tip of nose. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This large mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 31 MATERIAL: Carved and painted cedar APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 x 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $280 dollars SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Puebla. It represents one of the male characters in the dance of the huehues.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 32 MATERIAL: Carved and painted cedar APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 x 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $250 dollars SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Puebla. It was probably used in the dance of the . huehues.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 33 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/8 X 6 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 29 years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This old mask was made by a known carver in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 35 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good -- barely visible, even in the enlargement, there is a crack that appears to have been glued tightly shut on the inside of the chin. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $275 dollars SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Puebla. It was carved by a known carver that died in the year 2003. There is a fairly recent coat of paint. The black spot seen on the chin is a drop of paint that apparently fell while the moustache was being repainted. The moustache was carved together from the same block of wood as the rest of the mask. In other words it was not carved separately and then attached.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 36 MATERIAL: Carved and painted cedar APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 x 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30+ years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $270 dollars SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Puebla. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 37 MATERIAL: Carved and painted cedar APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 x 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30+ years CONDITION: good - some wood and paint loss on tip of nose --the wood loss on the tip of the nose is not as bad as the picture represents. The wood loss would hardly be noticeable if the nose were retouched. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $270 dollars SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the state of Puebla. The color of the hair and the beard is more blue than black as the pictures might mislead.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 38 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 9 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 8 years old CONDITION: vey good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask of a moor was done by a known carver in the northeastern highlands in the state of Puebla.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 39 -- not mask but dance shield MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 inch diameter ESTIMATED AGE: 8 CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 180 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the northeast highlands of the state of Puebla. We first saw the shield in the hut of an elderly lady who had an extremely friendly personality but spoke not Spanish. While waiting for her husband to return home in the pitch dark of a steep ravine, she invited us to see his mask by the very dim candlelight of the altar inside the house. There, barely visible, was this beautiful dance shield. Her husband later told us that it was used in the dance of the españoles. He explained that the kneeling figurerepresented Monteczuma and the man with the sword is Tumba Fernandez. Holding a bow and arrow is a Chichimeca Indian. The man said that he played the part of Tumba Fernandez in the celebration. I doubt that anything about Tumba Fernandez is historically correct. We were very pleased about our purchase when we climbed back up the hill and saw what we had purchased in the light of our pickup.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 40 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 3 yearsold CONDITION: good--a poorly martched dark pink color seems to be have used to touch up the nose on the side facing the camera. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 170 dollars SHIPPING: $34 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was used as part of a huehues dance group in the state of Veracruz. The color of the face is slightly lighter than it appears in the picture. Looking at the back side you can see the light-colored area. It appears that the previous owner had removed some of the excess wood from the center--probably to make a better fit after years of use.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 41 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/2 X 6 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 280 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This negrito mask was located in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. .


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 42 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 14 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 dollars SHIPPING: $ 34 dollars ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This payaso mask with a tuft of natural hair (usually a girlfriend's) intertwined with green and yellow ribbon is from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. Its features are a slight variation from other clown masks from nearby villages.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 43 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 10 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 18 CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This Santiaguero mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla from a known carver who used it as a model but also loaned or rented it to dancers. He only had a couple of new unfinished masks for sale. While sitting around the warmth of an outdoor fire, we got the lady of the house to prepare two trout which the netted from a small tank where they were being grown. While there the man told us he no longer carved masks because he did not want to have problems with the park rangers who protected the surrounding forest from being cut. The man finally warmed up to our conversation an brought out his model mask and we happily paid the price. The eyes are a brighter gold than they show up on the picture.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 44 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 8 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30+ years CONDITION: good solid mask --in the enlargement you can see a separation of the wood in the bottom rim -- since it is on the underside, the fissure is barely visible from the front. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $230 SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The person who carved this mask made special provision for comfort. Observe in the enlargement of the backside, the cavities that were carved out around the eyes and the nose. This mask comes from the state of Veracruz.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 45 MATERIAL: Carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 8 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 5 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $230 SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the state of Puebla. I especially liked this mask because the carver formed the tip of the pointed beard in the shape of a "W".


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 47 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 CONDITION: very good -- each of the topside tips of the moustache are slightly chipped in a barely noticable way as they are painted over. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This beautifully carved mask was done by a known carver in the northeastern highlands in the state of Puebla.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 48 MATERIAL: Carved and painted copalillo wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 12 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 38 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $380 dollars SHIPPING: $45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is an hernitaño or hermit mask from the state of Michoacán. I purchased it directly from the man who carved it 38 years ago. Copalillo wood is nearly snow white but at the age of this mask its color has taken on a new patina. The mask of course show no insect damage since the carver gathered the wood under a full moon.


click picture to enlarge click picture to enlarge	TITLE: Mask 49 MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with horse hir for facial hair APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 9 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 6 years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 340 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the state of Veracruz. .


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