Tlaxcala

8.5 inches, painted wood, hair eyelashes

This character is sometimes called Maringuilla, Mujer, or a female Catrine. Regardless, pretty girl masks like this are used in the Carines or Paragueros dances performed in the small state of Tlaxcala. The best examples are made by the Reyes family of Tlatempan or by Enrique Mendez of Puebla. This is a more ordinary example made by someone of less skill. Despite its imperfections (and a gold tooth!), the mask captures all of the genre’s feminine charm. Best of all, less affluent villagers could afford to buy it.