tin_mask_with_beard.JPGSomewhere deep in the collective consious of every culture lies a fascination with body alteration through the use of masks. Form highly carved wooden ceremonial masks from Africa to masks made of bronze used in Buddhist ceremonies , masks have tapped into the human imagination and have been an indispensible part of religious expression, the performing arts, and the battle field.

In pre-Columbian latin america the use of masks dates back some 3,500 years. Priests summoned the Gods by donning masks and they were used in sacrificial rituals. The “shock and awe” effect of the masks was used with great success by these ancient priests.

The introduction of the Spanish in the 1600’s saw the use of masks change in the hispanic culture. The Spanish used masks in the effort to spread Christianity, borrowing the powerful cultural icon for their use. The church used the masks in dramatic presentations of the stories of the bible and to intimidate the natives by portraying reenactments of battles.

In the last century the use of masks in ceremonies waned. A new phenomena occurred -the creation of masks for sale rather than for ceremony. Artisans practiced their craft in wood and bone portraying the mystery and beauty of the Mexican culture in masks. These artists leave their mark and their experiences on their work. A 16th century diablo mask may be re-interpreted by modern artists to resemble Darth Vador thus incorporating modern cultural experiences in an ancient media.

At Mexicanmasks.net we offer a variety of masks in many mediums for you, as well as other Latin American ethnographic items. By purchasing a mask for your collection you will be linking yourself to thousands of years of the hispanic experience through a unique, beautiful, mysterious decorative item. Click on a description of the mask to take you to the auction site to start your bidding and your collection.

vintage-dance-siete-vicios-mask-guerrero-mexico-3 VINTAGE DANCE SIETE VICIOS MASK GUERRERO MEXICO #3
US $72.78 (6 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 7:57:59 PST
vintage-blask-diablo-[devil]-mask--puebia-mexico-1915- VINTAGE BLASK DIABLO [DEVIL] MASK, PUEBIA MEXICO 1915
US $76.76 (6 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 8:22:38 PST
1910-monkey-dance-mask-mojiganga-veracruz-mexico 1910 MONKEY DANCE MASK MOJIGANGA VERACRUZ MEXICO
US $46.51 (5 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 9:44:20 PST
16-coconut-mask-set-mexican-masks-wall-decor-folk-art 16 COCONUT MASK SET mexican masks wall decor folk art
US $69.00
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 9:59:57 PST
20-coconut-mask-set-mexican-masks-wall-decor-folk-art 20 COCONUT MASK SET mexican masks wall decor folk art
US $85.00
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 10:07:30 PST
set-2-olmec-stone-masks-hand-made-guerrero-mexico SET 2 OLMEC STONE MASKS Hand Made Guerrero Mexico
US $49.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 14:06:26 PST
vintage-mexican-cat-mask-concave-wood-very-colorful Vintage MEXICAN CAT MASK Concave Wood Very Colorful
US $24.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 14:11:59 PST
superb-fantastic-old-antique-mexican-wooden-dance-mask- SUPERB FANTASTIC OLD ANTIQUE MEXICAN WOODEN DANCE MASK
US $200.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 17:05:25 PST
devil-diablo-demon-paper-mache-mask--mexican-folk-art Devil Diablo Demon Paper Mache Mask- Mexican Folk Art
US $7.95 (1 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 17:20:59 PST
mexican-mask--7 5--ht-on-stand-embedded-w -stone-pieces Mexican mask, 7.5" ht on stand embedded w/ stone pieces
US $35.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 17:27:07 PST
paper-mache--hand-painted-mask-south-america Paper Mache' Hand-Painted Mask-South America
US $14.50 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 6:23:05 PST
shaman~indian-beaded-mask~mexical-huichol-art~novica SHAMAN~Indian Beaded Mask~Mexical Huichol Art~NOVICA
US $89.84 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 8:19:14 PST
life-luck-success~~beadwork-mask~~huichol-art~~mexico LIFE LUCK SUCCESS~~BEADWORK MASK~~Huichol Art~~Mexico
US $97.15 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 8:20:30 PST
1910-devil-diablo-dance-of-guchupines-mask-mexico 1910 DEVIL DIABLO DANCE OF GUCHUPINES MASK MEXICO
US $33.33 (2 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 8:55:42 PST
green-devil-diablo-dance-mask-tixtla-guerrero-mexico- GREEN DEVIL DIABLO DANCE MASK TIXTLA GUERRERO MEXICO
US $29.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 9:17:04 PST
mexican-wood-devil-mask-real-6--goat-horns-folk-art Mexican Wood Devil Mask Real 6" Goat Horns Folk Art
US $36.95 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 9:49:26 PST
1915-skull-mask-3-powers-dance-zacapaneca-mexico-dead 1915 SKULL MASK 3 POWERS DANCE ZACAPANECA MEXICO DEAD
US $99.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 10:23:46 PST
bug-on-nose-mask--wood-mask-mexican-folk-art Bug on Nose Mask: Wood Mask Mexican Folk Art
US $34.95
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 14:00:46 PST
colorful-beadwork-mask-huichol-art~~mexican-artisan~new Colorful Beadwork MASK Huichol Art~~Mexican Artisan~NEW
US $103.45 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 19:27:40 PST
mayan-shaman-s-mask--circa-6th-century-yucatan Mayan Shaman's Mask, circa 6th Century Yucatan
US $1,750.00
End Date: Thursday Feb-11-2010 6:22:34 PST
deer-&-scorpion~mexico-huichol-beaded-mask-art~new DEER & SCORPION~Mexico Huichol Beaded MASK ART~NEW
US $98.95 (0 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-11-2010 6:52:50 PST
c 1915-clown-dance-mask-w tongue-out--veracruz-mexico c.1915 CLOWN DANCE MASK W/TONGUE OUT, VERACRUZ MEXICO
US $99.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-11-2010 7:59:58 PST
c -1915-wood-payaso-dance-mask--gurrerro-mexico c. 1915 WOOD PAYASO DANCE MASK, GURRERRO MEXICO
US $49.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-11-2010 8:22:54 PST
colorful-hand-painted-clay-mask-mexico-folk-art COLORFUL HAND PAINTED CLAY MASK , MEXICO FOLK ART
US $19.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-11-2010 9:14:42 PST
mexican-handmade-glass-mask candle-holder MEXICAN HANDMADE GLASS MASK/CANDLE HOLDER
US $17.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-11-2010 9:35:12 PST