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-- or simply scroll down to view full mask page --
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-- or simply scroll down to view full mask page --
-- or simply scroll down to view full mask page --
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TITLE: Mask 101
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood --with white tuft of horse hair in center of forehead APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good with some paint loss PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This clown's mask was found in the state of Veracruz, carved by a known carver . |
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TITLE: Mask 102
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years CONDITION: good -- a thin vertical line might be noted going down the side of the nose, about one-half the distance from the tip to the face. The three-inch nose was once broken and reglued at that spot. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $180 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was gathered in the state of Puebla. |
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TITLE: Mask 103
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 8 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years old CONDITION: good--on the enlargement of the last image of the back, I have circled a long verticale crack that seems to have been repaired. It is a sturdy mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $180 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is probably the product of a 90+ year old mask maker that is still carving masks in the northeastern highlands of Puebla. Read more about this interesting man at: http://kostohryz.tripod.com/teodoro.html |
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TITLE: Mask 104
MATERIAL: carved and painted wood -- probably mulberry, a hard, purplish wood. The horns are authentic goat. APPROXIMATE SIZE: face is 6 X 7 1/2 inches (11 inches tal counting horns) ESTIMATED AGE: 13 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This well executed mask is from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. We purchased this devils mask from a dancer that used it in the dance of the San Migueles. The mask carver died in 2003. The wife and son of the carver confirmed that the mask was approximately 13 years of age. . |
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TITLE: Mask 105
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood--with a black tuft of horse hair in middle of forehead APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20years CONDITION: good--with some paint loss PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This clown's mask was found in the state of Veracruz, carved by a known carver . |
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TITLE: Mask 106
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/2 ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 325 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This female huehue dance character comes from the state of Veracruz near the border with the state of Puebla. It was from the same dance group as Mask #107 (see if that mask is still available--it will state if it is from the same group). The masks were purchased from the son of a deceased dancer that kept the masks for the group. I purchased several pairs of the group's masks. |
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TITLE: Mask 107
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 1/2 ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good -- stains from an unknown origin are visible on the forehead of the mask PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 325 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This male huehue dance character comes from the state of Veracruz near the border with the state of Puebla. It was from the same dance group as Mask #106 (see if that mask is still available--it will state if it is from the same group). The masks were purchased from the son of a deceased dancer that kept the masks for the group. I purchased several pairs of the group's masks. |
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TITLE: Mask 108
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood-- with a white tuft of horse hair in the middle of the forehead and what appears to be boar bristles as a moustache and protruding from the chin APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 1,000 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This highly unusual clown mask comes from the border region of Veracruz and Puebla. From the pictures you can see that the jaw is hinged. The second image shows the mouth open. Another of the unique features of the mask is that it has four eye slits rather than two. One set of slits is below the painted eye and another set above. Years ago in this region, the clowns would go up the pole with voladores. The voladores, or flyers are the ones that go up a three story pole and fly back down on unwinding, spinning ropes--hanging upside down. It is uncommon now that the voladores use masks but at one time they did. This is so that there would be better vision both up and down as the dancer hurdles down head first in this dangerous sport. I am not sure that this particular mask was used for that specific purpose but if not, it woud have least been used also in the dance of the huehues. |
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TITLE: Mask 109
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 190 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. The mask does not have wood curving underneath the chin, being made this way so that the hair of a horse's mane could be nailed to the bottom from the inside to simulate a beard. The remains of rusted nails and holes can be seen at that position in the enlargementof the backside of the mask. |
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TITLE: Mask 110
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 9 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 240 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was made in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla by a known carver |
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TITLE: Mask 111
MATERIAL: carved and painted colorín wood with rubber ears APPROXIMATE SIZE: head is 6 1/2 X 9 inches and horns tip to tip are 14 invhes ESTIMATED AGE: 8 years old CONDITION: good condition PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 220 SHIPPING: $ 60 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the state of Veracruz. . |
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TITLE: Mask 112
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: The relative size of these items can be compared tothe 13 inch length of the woodpecker. ESTIMATED AGE: 8 years CONDITION: good --there is a firmly repaired crack raunning the lengfth of the left side of the bird's wing. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: These finger puppets and the woodpecker were used in association with the dance of the huehues. With the use of strings, the pecking action of the head is controlled as the bird scurries up a pole to release a flag or flowers. |
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TITLE: Mask 113
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 71/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 35 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was carved by an excellent, and known carver, in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. Notice the carving in the back of the mask. This is the kind of mask that fits like a glove when held against the face -- very comfortable for the dancer. Another unusual trademark of this carver, in the more recent years, is the fifth string hole in the middle of the forehead. As seen in the back view, it is visible there but not from the front because the hole slants upwards and goes out the top rim of the mask. |
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TITLE: Mask 114
MATERIAL: carved and painted colorín wood with rubber ears APPROXIMATE SIZE: The head is 7 X 8 inches and the horns tip to tip measures 13 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 2 years old CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 180 SHIPPING: $ 60 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the state of Veracruz. . |
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TITLE: Mask 115
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This clown mask is an example of the work of one of the better carvers of the region. It comes from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. I often visit the carver but because of failing eyesight I doubt that he will be carving more masks. See my Wall of Fame Selection for best mask of 2007 to see another very old clown mask done by this carver. http://kostohryz.tripod.com/maskofmonth/maskofmonth.html |
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TITLE: Mask116
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood, animal (?) whiskers and eyebrows, cloth over plastic tongue APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 4 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 480 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This jaguar mask was purchased from the owner's family in the northeastern highlands of Puebla. It was done by a known carver that did an excellent job. We saw the mask being danced at night inside a church in the town where we spent the night. It was being used in the dance of the voladores. We asked what the mask had to do with that dance and were told that the ancient Aztec dancers always had a live jaguar with them when they danced. We had to drive three hours out of the way to make the final purchase. With the mask maker on hand to help make the deal with the owner's family, after long deliberations, money changing hands, and agreement that the carver would make a replacement, we rapidly exited the scene. |
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TITLE: Mask 118
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 225 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask is from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. The mask carver died in 2003. We purchased the mask from the son of the carver. It was definitely carved from a redish cedar wood but I cannot tell if it has a thin coat of varnish over that. |
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TITLE: Mask 120
MATERIAL: carved and painted cedar wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 240 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. . |
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TITLE: Mask 121
MATERIAL: Carved and painted equimite, a light wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 x 11 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 3 years CONDITION: very good condition PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 220 SHIPPING: $45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the state of Veracruz. I purchased it from the captain of a carnival dance group in the village of Alto Lucero. He was disbanding the group and sold me several masks. . |
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TITLE: Mask 123
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 8 years old CONDITION: excellent PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 480 SHIPPING: $ ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This clown mask is an example of the work of one of the better carvers of the region. It comes from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. I often visit the carver but because of failing eyesight I doubtthat he will be carving more masks. The picture, front and back do not show much usage. In fact, about two years prior, the owner said he didn't want to sell the mask and I did not push for the purchase because I was hesitant about the age. On this trip, the son of the carver was with me and he knew both the mask and the owner. He assured me that his father had carved the mask eight years prior. See my Wall of Fame Selection for best mask of 2007 to see another very old clown mask done by this carver. http://kostohryz.tripod.com/maskofmonth/maskofmonth.html |
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TITLE: Mask 124
MATERIAL: carved and painted colorín wood with rubber ears -- There are bells hanging from the nose and a mirror stuck on the forehead. APPROXIMATE SIZE: The head measures 6 1/4 x 9 12 inches. The horns measure 13 1/2 inches tip to tip. ESTIMATED AGE: 15 years CONDITION: good -- At one time the inside edges were lined with foam rubber tacked in with approximately twnty nails. Only a trace of the foam rubber remains but many rusty nails are still there as can be seen in the back view of the mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 60 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: We purchased this mask from relatives of the now-deceased carver that made the mask.. The carver was the first to introduce the art in the village and several of the locals learned the art from him. |
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TITLE: Mask 125
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 6 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 45 years CONDITION: excellent PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 425 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. It was executed by a known, but long deceased carver. In fact, the age estimate of the mask comes from the approximate yearof death of the carver. The mask is extremely well preserved for its age. |
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TITLE: Mask 126
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 15 years CONDITION: very good -- The enlargement of the back will show a thin crack in the bottom inside of the chin. This is a sturdy mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 520 dollars SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the Northeastern highlands of th state of Puebla. It was carved known, now deceased carver. The width of the face and the depth of the mask are part of its appeal. |
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TITLE: Mask 127
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 1/2 inches. The nose protrudes 4 inches from the face. ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good -- with paint loss. It appears that about the last inch of the tip of the nose was added as an extension when the mask was carved. The ravages of time have made this joint visible under the paint with no great distraction of the lines of the mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 360 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This well made, long nosed santiaguero mask was found in the highlands of Veracruz. We purchased the mask from a carver that had apparently bought it or traded it from a dancer. The carver was using it as a model to make other masks. |
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TITLE: Mask 128
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: The age of the avocado wood is difficult to judge but I would estimate 20 years rather than the 50 that we were told. CONDITION: good.-- somewhere along its lifetime, the tip of the nose was scraped or chipped and then painted over. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The known carver of this negrito mask livedi n the northeastern highlands of the stateof Puebla. He passed away within the last year. Notice in the first picture the bulging cheeks as those of a trumpet player. |
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TITLE: Mask 129
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 6 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 350 SHIPPING: $ 35 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The nose on this mask is a little different from the Santiago masks that I have seen in other parts. It is more curved at the top when viewing from the side. I have been told that this is a moro character used in one of the many variations of the dances de la conquista. Locally where I purchased the mask, they actually called it the dance of the hormegas--no, not hormigas. This mask was gathered in the state of Veracruz. None that I asked knew the origin or meaning of the word hormega other than say that it was a dance. The word may in fact be a corruption of the word hormiga meaning ant--because of the red color. |
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TITLE: Mask 130
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with rubber tongue APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 inches X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: excellent PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 400 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This dog mask represents a character that plays a part in the dance of the huehues. It was purchased in the state of Veracruz near the border with Puebla. . |
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TITLE: Mask 131
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 1/4 inches X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 14 years CONDITION: good--there is a vertical hairline crack which is pointed out in the enlargement of the back of the mask. That same crack is barely visible when facing the front of the mask, about an inch to the right of the top string hole. The last enlargement indicates a 3/4 inch deep space left from chunk of wood that was knocked out. From the front of the mask, the defect would only be visible if you really got down low to look for it under the chin. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 480 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla.. The son of a deceased mask carver identified the mask as the work of his father who was born in 1921 and died in 1996. We had been trying for some time to locate the carver of this and a few other similar masks that we had found nearby. We have combed the area well and are not optimistic of finding more. If the mouth looks unusual, it is because both the upper and the lower teeth are protruding. The mask is a rarity. |
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TITLE: Mask 132
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 3/4 X 8 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 17 years CONDITION: good--in the enlargement of the backside of the mask, you might obseve a dark vertical line 1 1/2 inches to the left of the top string hole. It goes from the top of the mask down to the eye. What you actually see is the outline of what appears to be super glue that someone recently tried to insert into a hairline crack. There is no sign of that crack going through to the front of the mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 480 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. The son of a deceased mask carver identified the mask as the work of his father who was born in 1921 and died in 1996. We had been trying for some time to locate the carver of this and a few other similar masks that we had found nearby. We have combed the area well and are not optimistic of finding more. The mask is a rarity. |
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TITLE: Mask 133
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with cloth ears APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This very old dog probably danced in association with the dance of the huehues in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. |
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TITLE: Mask 134
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with a tuft of synthetic paper hanging down over the face APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 6 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 20 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This clown mask was used as a part of the dance of the huehues. It was found in the state of Veracruz. . |
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TITLE: Mask 135
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 40 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This very well carved female was carved for the dance of the huehues in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. It was carved by a long deceased and known carver. |
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TITLE: Mask 136
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/4 X 6 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 + years CONDITION: good with a recent paint job PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the state of Veracruz. The mask has an extremely dark patina on the back side of the mask, showing its age. The front of the mask has had its repaints, but what great patina on the other side! |
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TITLE: Mask 137
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 91/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 6 years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was carved by a known carver in the northern highlands of the state of Puebla. It was danced in association with the dance of the huehues. The protruding tongue is not clearly visible in the frontal picture. It can be seen hanging down in the picture of the reverse side. |
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TITLE: Mask 138 (Santiago Dance Horse)
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood, human hair, and leather APPROXIMATE SIZE: 35 inches long, 16 1/2 inches high from top of ears to bottom of hoof. The outer dimensions of the rectangular hoop iare 13 1/2 X 15 1/2 inches. ESTIMATED AGE: 40 years CONDITION: good - the left rear hoof was broken so I glued it and secured it further with two long screws that enter through the bottom of the underside of the hoof. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 900 SHIPPING: $ 160 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This Santiago dance horse comes from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. |
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TITLE: Mask 139
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/2 X 6 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 10 years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The nose on this mask is a little different from the Santiago masks that I have seen in other parts. It is more curved at the top when viewing from the side. I have been told that this is a moro character used in one of the many variations of the dances de la conquista. Locally where I purchased the mask, they actually called it the dance of the hormegas--no, not hormigas. This mask was gathered in the state of Veracruz. None that I asked knew the origin or meaning of the word hormega other than say that it was a dance. The word may in fact be a corruption of the word hormiga meaning ant--because of the red color. |
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TITLE: Mask 140
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with horse hair facial hair APPROXIMATE SIZE: Tip of ear to tip of ear is 9 inches. 9 1/2 inches tall. ESTIMATED AGE: 50 + years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 620 SHIPPING: $ 45 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This huge mask was carved by a known carver in the state of Puebla near the border with the state of Veracruz. After purchasing the mask in the village we took the mask to the 83 year old carver who was born in 1923. He identified it as one he had done over 50 years ago. He still carves--but mostly furniture. |
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TITLE: Mask 141
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 9 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30+ years CONDITION: very good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 420 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the state of Veracruz. . |
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TITLE: Mask 142
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 35+ years CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 390 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was purchased from a 70+ year old retired volador (the ones that go up a three story pole and fly back down on unwinding, spinning ropes). We in fact bought several top quality masks from him. He took very good care of his masks. The mask comes from the state of Veracruz |
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TITLE: Mask 143
MATERIAL:carved and painted heavy wood with leather ears and stiff cloth tongue APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/2 X 6 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 35 years CONDITION: good -- the old leather ears are rplacements that are attached with string. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 290 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This old dog mask was used as an adjunct to the dance of the huehues. It has a fairly new coat of paint which is not unusual. Many times this is a yearly custom--to paint the masks to make them look better for the dances but with no idea that they would ever be sold. The mask was used in the state of Veracruz. |
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TITLE: Mask 144
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/2 ESTIMATED AGE: 40 years CONDITION: good--notice a repaired crack running down the left side of the face (second picture) in the region of the sideburn. The person that restored the crack did a sloppy job and most of what you see is excess glue that mars the finish around the crack. On the back side only about 2 1/2 inches shows (in the upper part above the eyes). When I purchased the mask there were quite a few inactive worm holes that the mask had accumulated over its forty year life. I chose to fill the holes with wood filler and patinate the wood filler with brown and transparent wax. I was not able to localize the wax, so the entire back has somewhat of a shine. Fortunately evidence of the old worm damage is not easily visible. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 450 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This very old payaso mask was carved by a known carver in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. The old customs of the dances are fading away and the 77 year old carver seldom carves new ones. He is usually in the fields working when we visit. He barely speaks Spanish. He and his pleasant family always invite us to eat. |
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TITLE: Mask 145
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 6 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 60 years old CONDITION: good PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 380 SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was caked with an extraordinary amount of dust when I purchased it. This was from many years of idelness in the rafters. I took it to my hotel room and flloded the mask under the faucet. If you like a clean mask, there is still plenty of dirt left for you to clean. The mask was found in the state of Veracruz. |
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TITLE: Mask 146
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with animal hair used as facial hair APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/2 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30+ years CONDITION: very good -- within the last few years someone resized or smoothed out the backside area around both cheeks. The remainder of the back has the original patina. This is evident in the pictures of the back of the mask. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 480 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This small mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. It was carved by a known carver of the region. I purchased this mask from the carver's son who identified the mask as one done by his father who passed away in 2003. The son himself is a carver but I asked him to find me masks done by his father. Even though it looks much like a tiger, they call it a dog mask. The mask was used as an adjuct to the dance of the huehues. |
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TITLE: Mask 147
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 25 years CONDITION: fair -- This is a sturdy mask with paint loss. The specks that might appear in the enlargement of the back are mostly fly or insect specks and not worm holes. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 275 dollars SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was collected in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. |
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TITLE: Mask 148
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 67 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 15 years old CONDITION: good -- reflection on the pupil of the left eye makes it appear somewhat paler than it really is. PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 250 SHIPPING: $34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I had the privilege of meeting the carver of this mask before he died in 2006. When I first met him, he was already too weak to carve more masks. We visited on several other occassions and saw his health deteriorate. He had quit carving a few years before. He sent us to a neighbor that had purchased some of his masks and was getting too old to continue dancing. We did visit that neighbor and were successful in purchasing the small group of masks that he owned. This clown mask was used along with the dance of the huehues. This mask had recently been reconditioned with new paint on the front and the inside resanded. It is an old mask. A documentary was filmed in the town in 1978. I have seen parts of that documentary and the carver was easily recognizable by a great smile that was present even when we visited him on his death bed. |
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TITLE: Mask 149
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 40 years CONDITION: good: with scraped paint on tip of nose PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 320 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. See the enlarged views to see the way the mask maker originally carved only vestiges of the ears. |
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TITLE: Mask 150
MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 60 years CONDITION: excellent PRE-AUCTION PRICE: $ 1,200 SHIPPING: $ 34 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the state of Veracruz. It was purchased from a 70 year old retired volador. I also purchased masks from his brother and one of his compadres, also ex-voladores. The voladores, or flyers are the ones that go up a three story pole and fly back down on unwinding, spinning ropes--hanging upside down. It is uncommon now that the voladores use masks but in his time he did. The uniqueness of this mask is that it has four eye slits rather than two. One set of slits is below the painted eye and another set above. This was so that there would be better vision both up and down as the dancer hurdles down head first in this dangerous sport. The mask is exceptionally well-carved with thin, stiff walls. There was a ritual and tears shed before this mask left the owner's house. NOTICE: It is with sadness that I report that at or around 1:00 P.M. on 20 March 2006 in the community of El Tajín in Papantla, Veracruz the above mentioned volador, Jesús Arroyo Cerón, fell to his death after performing while descending from the volador pole. After performing at the top of the mast, he was the last to come down. Rather than come down the the more secure way of climbing down the pole, he chose to rappel down a rope. Apparently he did not slow his descent by wrapping the rope around a leg. The rope began to burn his hands and about half-way down he released the rope and fell to his death. I had enjoyed speaking with the man. I remember him telling me that no one in his group had ever fallen. He said that he had retired from the performances at around 60 years of age. This means that he had aged 10 years since, and he had been that many years without practice. Whatever compelled him to do this last performance, he died doing what was understably a great source of pride for him. . |
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