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My name is Vernon Kostohryz and have retired to live in Mexico. I routinely acquire Mexican dance masks, mostly from the states of Puebla and Veracruz. I enjoy the hunt for Mexican antiques and have decided not to go overboard with a personal mask collection as I do have other antique hobbies. The hunt for the masks takes me to many exciting places with extraordinary scenery and isolated exotic cultures. With little wall space and a wife that prefers other wall decorations, I will instead place some of my outstanding trophies on this site. For the benefit of those that have not yet located my sale site for Mexican dance masks it is at: http://kostohryz.hypermart.net/salesite/masks/masks1.html . The masks chosen by me for this site might still be for sale. You are correct if you assume that I have put a higher price on that particular trophy, not being too concerned if it doesn't sell. Some of the selections might have already have been sold and the new proud owners will have confirmed my choice by voting with their pocketbooks. If you care to submit a free authentic vote I would be happy to consider it if you to write me at vernonk@cybermatsa.com.mx . If you are a proud owner of one of the masks placed in this wall of masks, and you do not want it displayed, please inform me and I will remove it and replace it with another. You might imagine that I can be flexible.
July 2008 Post:In
the past I have attempted to select the "Mexican Mask of the Month" from
the more recently acquired choices. Masks from the region that I
search have become exceedingly scarce so I feel that I cannot continue
to follow that policy. I will occasionally be including masks gathered
in previous years. Since I have no record of earlier monthly selections,
there exists the possibility that some that I select will be repeats.
Good masks are so scarce that I might eventually have to rename this site
to "Mexican Mask of the Year".
Vernon
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MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 60 years CONDITION: excellent -- no doubt it has been affectionately repainted over the many years. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the state of Veracruz. It was purchased from a 70 year old retired volador. I also purchased masks from his brother and one of his compadres, also ex-voladores. The voladores, or flyers, are the ones that go up a three story pole and fly back down on unwinding, spinning ropes--hanging upside down. It is uncommon now that the voladores use masks but in his time he did with this clown mask. The uniqueness of this mask is that it has four eye slits rather than two. One set of slits is below the painted eye and another set above. This was ideal because the wearer would have vision both up and down as the dancer hurdles down head first in this dangerous sport. This does not mean that all other four slitted masks were used by voladores but this type of mask is rare. The mask is exceptionally well carved with thin, stiff walls. There was a ritual and tears were shed before this mask left the owner's house. NOTICE: It is with sadness that I report that at or around 1:00 P.M. on 20 March 2006 in the community of El Tajín in Papantla, Veracruz the above mentioned volador, Jesús Arroyo Cerón, fell to his death after performing while descending from the volador pole. After performing at the top of the mast, he was the last to come down. Rather than come down the the more secure way of climbing down the pole, he chose to rappel down a rope. Apparently he did not slow his descent by wrapping the rope around a leg. The rope began to burn his hands and about half-way down he released the rope and fell to his death. I had enjoyed speaking with the man. I remember him telling me that no one in his group had ever fallen. He said that he had retired from the performances at around 60 years of age. This means that he had aged 10 years since, and he had been that many years without practice. Whatever compelled him to do this last performance, he died doing what was a great source of pride for him. You can read more of this, some in Spanish and some in English at: http://kostohryz.hypermart.net/salesite/volador/volador.html
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Wall of Fame Best Overall Selection for 2006 TITLE: Large Carnival Mask
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TITLE: Payaso Mask
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TITLE: Santiago Mask Repainted for Carnival
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TITLE: Jaguar Mask
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TITLE: Century-Old Mask
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TITLE: Red High Cheek-Boned Carnival Mask
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TITLE: Huehue Mask
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TITLE: Diablo Mask
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TITLE: Sleepy-Eyed Mask
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TITLE: Perro Mask
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TITLE: Payaso
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TITLE: Female huehue Mask
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Links to Related Sites
Border Antiques |
Mexican Masks |
Don Teodoro |
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