Santiago, Dominican Republic

24 inches, painted papier mache

Here is an excellent example of a devil masks made for carnival in the Dominican Republic, where traditions date back to the 1800’s when the island started to assume its own identity as a nation. Called Lechones, there are two basic Devil mask types in Santiago which originated in two different neighborhoods. The mask from La Joya has multiple small horns attached around the two main horns. This mask has a longer, pointed snout. The second type is Los Pepines. It has a broader face which sometimes can be likened to that of a duck. Its horns are smooth and generally longer.  Some of the spikes on this Lechone are slightly bent, but still strong and sturdy.