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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you keep those sold masks in your inventory? Sorry! It can be frustrating to customers, but we also want this website to be as helpful as possible to students. We leave some of the sold masks up to make sure there is plenty of variety for our non-buying visitors to see. Who should use MasksoftheWorld.com? For generalists (collectors interested in many different cultures) we are indispensable. Specialist are often pleasantly surprised by some of the fine, authentic masks we are able to find... or people who just want something unique for a costume party. Do you do appraisals? Yes. You can start the process by sending me a single photo or a small group photo of masks in which you are interested. I will answer promptly with what I can do and the cost. Often this is in two stages: first, a general evaluation done quickly at low cost, and then--if desired and within my capability-- a more detailed report. From where do you get these masks? The internet, estate sales, flea markets and the like. We rarely buy from runners or dealers, nor do we have the opportunity for trips to distant lands. What about authenticity? Some of our masks are authentic and some are made for the tourist trade. We do not sell either unless they are well made. The descriptive copy usually addresses this distinction. If not, just ask us and we will give you our honest opinion. What about provenance? Since most of our sources know little about what they are selling, we must make educated guesses about background. That is an important reason we can charge so little. Masks with provenance sell for much, much more at the big-name auction houses and galleries. Why do you have ANY tourist masks? Authentic masks can be rare and prohibitively expensive. If an indigenous carver makes some extras for sale, it can be a good deal for the collector. Also, some carvers are more imaginative in their creation of masks for the market. Most of the time we avoid fakes– tourist masks that have been artificially treated to look old and used.. An exception might be a beautiful West African fake that, if real, would sell for many thousands of dollars. Will you ship anywhere? Yes. Contact us for a shipping estimate. We do not try to make any money on shipping. You are charged for postage and insurance only. Shipping LARGE masks or groups of masks internationally can be expensive. Is there any guarantee? We want all of our customers to be satisfied. If you wish to return a mask for a refund, please let us know within a week and we will do so. Are masks a good investment? Tribal art has continued to grow in value. As with most other fine art and antiques, the higher quality items tend to do much better than decorative masks. How do you price your masks? A well-respected dealer I know bases price on age, authenticity, usage, elegance, size, rarity, and the price he paid. I would also add design and craftsmanship to the list. Cheers!
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