State of Puebla, Mexico

8 Inches, painted wood.

Here one sees a mysterious older mask. It is dramatically carved, with bold mustache in relief, and small pieces of glass inlaid to create the eyes. The carving of the beard is striking. Looking carefully, one sees that this was a pink faced mask with white mustache and beard. There are shallow outlines on the sides, to denote ears. The teeth are covered with foil. All this is interesting and potentially attractive, but then a subsequent user has slathered over both colors with dark brown paint. Such treatment usually means that the mask represented one character, and then was repainted to be transformed into another. In this case, the original character was probably a Moor or Christian from the Moros y Christianos dance, but painting has converted the character to who knows what, maybe a Viejo for Carnaval? In one life or another, this old mask has been heavily danced, the back has a great patina.

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