Antique Celebrating Mexcian Folk Art - Cinco de Mayo Mask

Mexican masks in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the day of celebration of victorious resistance of Mexican forces against French Imperial forces in the Battle of Puebla, on May 5th 1862.

8 H x 7.75 W x 6 D



Mexican masks in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the day of celebration of victorious resistance of Mexican forces against French Imperial forces in the Battle of Puebla, on May 5th 1862.



These masks are intriguing in terms of the flexible variety of mythological archetypes they portray, ranging from stylized caricatures of basic human emotions, to animals, to skulls, to otherworldly imaginary creatures. Another unique quality of these masks is the wide range of vivid, expressive pigments they are painted with, and the great variety in colors and styles within the same genre.




The tradition of creating handmade masks in Mexico goes back thousands of years. For as long as they have existed, these masks have been used as part of religious and ceremonial rituals and theatrical celebrations. This tradition of acting through use of masks is embedded in Mexican drama and dance cultures, and has crept into many forms of contemporary Mexican pop culture, for example, in lucha libre, a form of Mexican wrestling that follows a specific form that allows for the dramatic use of the masks as symbolic props.

8 x 8 x 6 in