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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Pibbledribble on July 15, 2017, 04:36:18 PM

Title: Wooden masks
Post by: Pibbledribble on July 15, 2017, 04:36:18 PM
Just picked up these two guys and would like to find out some history on them. Any help is appreciated.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: mart on July 15, 2017, 08:09:15 PM
"Picked up" ??  From where ??  Does not show anything that can be traced to a particular culture !!  What kind of wood ??  Light, heavy ??  Can we get a pic of the back too ??
If you look closely at the lines on front you will see vertical lines behind it and some circular areas along the line !!  This happens frequently when using a Dremel and going across the grain of the wood !!  I have used one a time or two and this is a common thing to happen !!
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Pibbledribble on July 15, 2017, 10:28:14 PM
It's heavier wood. I picked it up from an antique store.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Pibbledribble on July 15, 2017, 10:29:07 PM
Here's the other one, from a different antique store.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: mart on July 16, 2017, 05:25:29 AM
May I ask what your location is ??  What did the antique store tell you about them or  did you ask ??   Where did they get them ??   Even the second one has no culture ID that  I know of !! 

https://www.pinterest.com/dianekopperman/masks-am-indian-inuit-alaska-and-eskimo/

This would be my guess !!  Scroll down to see some that have some similar characteristics/shapes !!
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Pibbledribble on July 16, 2017, 08:29:48 AM
I'm located in Pennsylvania. I didn't inquire about the first mask but the second intrigued me and the shop owner told me good luck and that he's happy to get rid of it.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Skinny on July 17, 2017, 05:41:26 AM
The second one looks asian to me. Could be Tebet, Nepal, or somewhere like Java. I'm no expert though.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: KC on July 17, 2017, 10:03:43 AM
I have no earthly idea.  They don't resemble the ones we see coming in from Mexico, South America, etc.  The first one is almost haunting....  The second one looks more decorative art. 

However, The Mask Man could possibly help you.  He even has a "Ask The Mask Man" section for you to send photos, etc.

https://masksoftheworld.com/ (https://masksoftheworld.com/)

Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: mart on July 17, 2017, 07:44:02 PM
I would have expected the second one to be from New Orleans !!  Thats a great site KC !!  Hope they can ID these masks !!
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: DANTE5 on July 18, 2017, 04:00:05 AM
It looks like a Balinese Ceremonial Mask .

https://www.google.com/search?q=balinese+carved+mask&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinyO2CxpLVAhWCHD4KHQJFCK0QsAQISQ

Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Pibbledribble on July 20, 2017, 05:04:02 AM
Thank you all so much for the help! I've asked the mask man as well  :)
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: mart on July 20, 2017, 06:32:40 AM
It does resemble the one Dante5 posted !!  Don`t forget to let us know what he says !!
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Pibbledribble on July 21, 2017, 09:45:18 AM
I attempted to ask the mask man and I got an error message stating "form over quota" when I clicked on the link to ask a question. Will try again at another time.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: mart on July 21, 2017, 11:05:48 AM
That means (I think) that the pics are over the size limit for that site !!   Check to see what the size limit is !! Reduce the size and try again !!
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: Tanya on August 25, 2017, 03:34:33 PM
Just picked up these two guys and would like to find out some history on them. Any help is appreciated.

The first one definitely looks African.
Do a search on Pinterest for African Masks and you'll see plenty like that.
Title: Re: Wooden masks
Post by: jondar on September 17, 2017, 10:34:23 AM
Hello.  Someone finally asked a question that I have just a little info on but I'm still late on getting back with it.  Where oh where does the time go?

The mask in the picture was given to me about 15 years ago by a good friend of ours, a Salvadoran businessman named Federico.  The mask was made by a maskmaker (is that a word) in El Salvador named, and so marked on the back, by someone named Ciro.  Federico knows/knew Ciro and had a collection of more than a dozen of masks made by him.  He wasn't sure that Ciro was still alive but said that he was getting up in years.

The wood is moderately hard and fibrous and wood was removed by hand from the rear with a wood chisel,judging from the hundreds of cuts.  Enough wood was removed so that all the wood is about three quarters of an inch in thickness.

I just never got around to researching it so can'e tell you much more than this.  Perhaps some of the members know something more about Ciro.