Negrito Mask

Uruapan, Michoacan

8 ¾ inches, Copalillo wood with paint

This mask has some of the characteristics of the great carver, Victoriano Salgado, however there is a chance it is by one of his imitators. The goatee is especially typical for his Negro masks. This mask has many signs of wear, including the scuffed paint on nose and chin, and the patina of the back. There are tiny holes across the top of the mask that were necessary to attach the headdress.

In the book- Behind the mask in Mexico, on page 28 there is a photo of the carver and on page 141 there is a dance photo of someone wearing a mask by Victoriano in this style. In the book- Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art From the collection of Fomento Cultural Banamax, on page 250 there is a portrait of Victoriano, on page 253 a photo of a mask very like this one, but with some variation in the form of the nose and mouth. The WCC on the back is probably an owner's mark.