Monkey mask

Deer dance, Guatemala

7 inches, painted wood

The deer dance is common in most parts of Guatemala. Though it has been Christianized to various degrees, it derives from an ancient Mayan hunting ceremony. The cast of characters includes an old man, 4 hunters, 2 dogs, 4 deer, a tiger, a lion, and 2 monkeys. Guatemalan animal masks are stylized in a way that seems both naive and humorous.

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