Mexican folk masks

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. Mexican folk masks, masks shouldn't be view in isolation.

Among the most vivid, dark, and uncannily beautiful styles of Mexican Art are the dance masks. Masks of this style developed when evangelizers in Mexico co-opted the ancient ritualistic use of masks to spread Christianity with allegorical plays and songs. Dances evolved from the dramas, most famously the Christians fighting the Moors, and became popular across Mexico. Beautiful authentic Moor mask from early 60s worn in the traditional dance of the Moors and Christians.. Carved from a hardwood with glass eyes.

Mexican folk masks

When one puts on a mask, he takes on the persona of the mask. Ceremonial masks have been used in dances in Mexico and Guatemala for thousands of years. Before the Spanish Conquest, masks depicted the animal spirits and gods of the indigenous peoples. The Spanish priests taught Roman Catholicism to the natives using medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays and introduced new masks for these performances. Such figures included the Spaniard and the Moor, and the Devil to represent Judas. Native dances evolved to incorporate both types of figures, and animal masks as well as those of European origin are still used in local festivals. Our dance masks are from Mexico and Guatemala. Descriptions accompany each mask. There are dance masks, some old and some new; masks by the master mask makers Juan Orta now deceased of Michoacan, Mexico; Justo Xuana of Oaxaca. Those masks which have actually been danced are marked as such. Others were bought from makers of dance masks, but never danced. Cart 0. Painted wooden mask from Michoacan with feather earring. Painted canvas tigre costume. Red devil mask.

The masks are traditionally used in various dances and representations during Christmastime and may use serpents and lizards as allusions to elements of pre-Hispanic Gods, mexican folk masks. He agreed to take on the task for a lot of money.

Mexican mask-folk art refers to the making and use of masks for various traditional dances and ceremony in Mexico. Evidence of mask making in the region extends for thousands of years and was a well-established part of ritual life in the pre-Hispanic territories that are now Mexico well before the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire occurred. In the early colonial period, evangelists took advantage of native customs of dance and mask to teach the Catholic faith although later, colonial authorities tried to ban both unsuccessfully. After Mexican Independence , mask and dance traditions showed a syncretism and mask traditions have continued to evolve into new forms, depicting Mexico's history and newer forms of popular culture such as lucha libre. Masks commonly depict Europeans Spanish, French, etc. The use of masks and costumes was an important part of Mesoamerican cultures for long before the arrival of the Spanish.

The collection contains three boxes of manuscript and galley proofs, 88 photographic prints, and slides. Donald Cordry's publication, Mexican Masks, published by the University of Texas Press in , was based upon the collection. Cordry studied at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and later earned a reputation as an expert on puppets, which he both created and collected. He began collecting artifacts and information documenting Mexican Indian arts and crafts in , on a trip to Mexico. He formed professional associations with the Heye Foundation now the Museum of the American Indian , which sponsored further trips, and with the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, California. In Cordry traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, and in founded a crafts workshop there to finance his expeditions to collect and record ethnographic data. He later relocated to Mixcoac, in Mexico City, and Cuernavaca, but kept his home in Mexico and pursued the documentation of its arts and crafts until his death.

Mexican folk masks

Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. Bill LeVasseur has collected hundreds of Mexican masks from remote villages that now hang on the walls of his museum in San Miguel de Allende. He's singlehandedly preserving a piece of Mexican culture that few realize is still thriving today. September 6, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Bill LeVasseur never set out to become an ethnographer. Or a historian, anthropologist, migration specialist, or scholar of syncretism for that matter. He was an American advertising executive living in Mexico City who simply liked Mexican folk art. But in the past two decades he has become all of those things, of sorts at least, amassing a collection of hundreds of Mexican masks from remote villages across the country that today he hangs on the walls of his museum in San Miguel de Allende.

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In general, those playing the Spanish wear masks, while those playing the indigenous do not. On these masks, facial features are generally painted on and cuts are made for the eyes. However, dancers with masks of an old man can also have a comic function, as a kind of side show to the main event, performing singly or in pairs. A dancer masked as a healer tends to the wounded animals. In other projects. Some of the masquerades such as Viejos y diablos are humorous with sexual overtones. Knowledge of these types comes from codices, depictions on sculptures and the writings of the conquering Spanish. Skull Mask Skull masks have their origins in the pre-Hispanic period. This windblower is said to scare away the evil spirits when hung above a doorway. Native dances evolved to incorporate both types of figures, and animal masks as well as those of European origin are still used in local festivals. Devil masks are mainly found in the Mexican states of Guerrero, Michoacan and Colima. These include the Conquest, Independence, and the Battle of Puebla , using masked characters. 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.

Mexican mask-folk art refers to the making and use of masks for various traditional dances and ceremony in Mexico. Evidence of mask making in the region extends for thousands of years and was a well-established part of ritual life in the pre-Hispanic territories that are now Mexico well before the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire occurred.

Evidence of masks made with bone thousands of years old have been found at Tequixquiac , State of Mexico. Others were bought from makers of dance masks, but never danced. Other tools can include chisels, pliers and more, with sandpaper or pumice stone for smoothing. Tezcatlipoca was a night god whose colors were black and red. Masks vary by the kinds of materials used to make them. In general, those playing the Spanish wear masks, while those playing the indigenous do not. The performance is danced to the traditional music of the flutes and drums. Most traditional communities have one person who specializes in the craft. In between, the wild beast runs into the audience, pouncing on unsuspecting people. They disguised themselves as stones, trees, and animals. Wearing top hats and coats, they also make fun of wealthy landowners. Ceremonial masks have been used in dances in Mexico and Guatemala for thousands of years. Expressions vary depending on the character being portrayed. Shipping calculated at checkout.