Latin America, Mexico, Hidalgo, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. An abstract carved wooden festival mask with stylized facial features including ovoid eye slits for the wearer, a protruding curved nose, slit mouth, and pronounced chin. A striking example with nice lustrous patina. Size: 7.5" L x 5.375" W (19 cm x 13.7 cm)

According to scholar Barbara Mouldin, "Masked festivals in Hidalgo are found in Huastec, Nahua, and Otomi communities situated along borders with San Luis Potosi and Veracruz, and many of the dances and mask types are shared by the same ethnic group on both sides of the state lines. Carnival is one of the most popular celebrations throughout the region, and in many communities masks worn for Holy Week, Day of the Dead, and patron saint feast day performances are reused and transformed into more comical characters for Carnival." "Tigers, Devils, and the Dance of Life: Masks of Mexico" by Barbara Mauldin (Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1999), p. 27)

Provenance: private Eason Eige Collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

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#131190

Four perforations at sides for attachments and/or suspension. Age crack and small chip to lower left of chin. Nice lustrous patina.