Jaguar Mask

Danza del Tigre, Oaxaca

10 inches, painted wood

One of the most popular animal subjects for masquerade is the tigre, the rural Mexican word for jaguar. Though now an endangered species, it is the largest new world cat and was both feared and worshipped in pre-conquest times. The tigre was believed to be the animal-soul companion of the important Aztec diety Tezcatlipoca, a nocturnal god who could bestow or withhold riches and good luck at will. Today jaguar masks are used in many Mexican dances around the country, including those Spring-time celebrations which beseech the Gods for plentiful rain and rich harvests.

Made by a master carver for commercial sale, it is very much in the cultural tradition. I have seen older, heavily used version of this exact mask.