LOOKING FOR MASKS: What mask is this? - very nervous.

1. • laststep 2 years, 3 months ago

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   • I'm not a magician, witch doctor, neither do I believe in magic. I like to collect weird and wonderful thing's, from the good to the ugly. Don't ask me why, I just enjoy collecting. I don't practice magic what so ever - I'm just a normal person.

     However, I was away on holiday for 2 weeks when I entered this shop. In there, they sold everything from masks, culture symbols, gargoyles, gothic etc. I very stupidly, but randomly bought this wooden mask for 31 uk pounds (without even checking where it originates from, and what kind of mask it is. Please don't ask me why, but I just bought it, and now am very nervous. I think the shop keeper thought I was weird, but there were no warnings about it being bad or black magic etc she just smiled and said whatever rocks your boat haha.

     Quite honestly, it gives me the creeps and I am in very good minds to sell it unless I find it to be harmless or what purpose it has. I think it could possibly be tribal, but I don't know what that means. Also, I think it is indonesian, but I can't possibly see it having good and warm purpose, it's ugly!

     I'll have a picture for you later today hopefully and you can decide for yourself. I can desribe it though, as being heavy in nature, rope / wool like hair, it's painted black, pale blue, red and faded grey. It has it's eyes closed, it's got big red open lips, and razor triangle typed teeth. If it is of bad luck, it's gone.

     Please assure me that I won't be cursed or anythink like that lol

     regards

     last
     

2. • laststep 2 years, 3 months ago

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   • here it is guys

     <a href="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/copysound/pic1.jpg" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/copysound/pic1.jpg </a>

     let me know if anyone knows what this mask is / what it means. Cheers!

3. • laststep 2 years, 3 months ago

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   • Hi sorry for posting again, but here is a MUCH better shot of my mask. I am in two minds whether this mask is evil or not, because of the colour range. I do not think red and blue are associated with death or anything dark.

     http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/copysound/pic2.jpg

4. • Anonymous 2 years, 3 months ago

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   • i make no claim of any knowledge about African masks, but it slightly resembles this one, so it might be from the same/a similar place?
     http://www.rrtraders.com/Masks/tchokwe3.htm

5. • Anonymous 2 years, 3 months ago

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   • wow look at the price of that one!. Yes it does. I think just because masks look ugly, it does not mean they are evil, but actually to warn away evil! - I'm quite happy to hang my mask now. I think it is african

6. • BobF 2 years, 3 months ago

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   • Well its an african mask of course, although I'm not knowledable enough to say from exactly where. A lot of these are made for the tourist market and show it, although your example looks well carved and painted. The idea that these are 'evil' is tied up with our mistaken ideas about native religions and not to be taken seriously. Of course they look 'powerful' because the designs were developed by local artists over many centuries and they were usually meant to represent otherworldly or spirit beings, and thus embody various powers. All good masks should be powerful and these are no exception. Its why artists like Picasso were so excited when they first saw african masks and sculptures, and why it went on to influence their work so much. You were obviously drawn to the mask when you first saw it in the shop, so hang it on your wall and enjoy it. It won't do you or anyone else any harm.

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