Mask Makers Web

A set of 12 beautifully carved and painted wood pre-colonial Mayan folk masks with real glass eyes and original costumes is now offered on the market for the first time. These 12 masks belong to the Ketchi "Cortez" dance and were made before the turn of the century in Guatamala. They then found their way into the Maya Mountains of Belize where they were used until 1981. There is documentation of their use in Belize's national Independence Day celebration. This is a powerful collection and has a very intersting story about how they had to be exorcized after being acquired. Many wood folk masks from Meso-America, due to the tropical climate and the custom of destroying the masks after their use makes finding an intact collection more than fifty years old very unusual. Most of the folk masks on the market today have been made for the tourist market and have never been used in a legitimate folk ritual. This folk collection was used for more than a hundred years and brings with them the power of their history.

Category: Mask tradition

Added on: Mar 30, 2003 | Hits: 9056