Old & Used Mexican Folk Art Payaso (Clown/Buffoon) Mask from Rural Village

This mask came from a single collection of masks that all show extensive use and original wear & tear.The history and information is scarce on this subject and much more research is needed I believe on this genre of collection.

However the power and experience these intense masks offer should not be underestimated. North American masks in general are a very small and rare category and as such I feel the good ones offer a lot of value for a very reasonable investment.

Conan Brooks

“For the pre-Hispanic Cultures, the masks served to conceal the soul, appearance, and personality, of the mask wearer and transformed the wearer into a mystical state in a way to communicate with the supernatural to influence the powerful forces in nature. However, masks shouldn't be view in isolation. For their role to be understood, they need to be studied in context. The dances which use masks must be studied and analyzed to understand the significance of the mask. Historic dances served as a function to tell future generations of important events that impacted the villages and keep the memory of those events alive.”

​Source:mexicanmuseum.org

Size:

Age:Mid 20th Century 

ex private collection