This is a photographic record of a mask picker's favorite masks collected from the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz beginning in 2005.

Mexican Mask of the Month

(Click on smaller pictures for enlargements and descriptions.)

Best of 2005

Best of 2006

Best of 2007

Best of 2008

2008 Selections
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2009 Selections
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

My name is Vernon Kostohryz and have retired to live in Mexico. I routinely acquire Mexican dance masks, mostly from the states of Puebla and Veracruz. I enjoy the hunt for Mexican antiques and have decided not to go overboard with a personal mask collection as I do have other antique hobbies. The hunt for the masks takes me to many exciting places with extraordinary scenery and isolated exotic cultures. With little wall space and a wife that prefers other wall decorations, I will instead place some of my outstanding trophies on this site. For the benefit of those that have not yet located my sale site for Mexican dance masks it is at: http://kostohryz.hypermart.net/salesite/masks/masks1.html . The masks chosen by me for this site might still be for sale. You are correct if you assume that I have put a higher price on that particular trophy, not being too concerned if it doesn't sell. Some of the selections might have already have been sold and the new proud owners will have confirmed my choice by voting with their pocketbooks. If you care to submit a free authentic vote I would be happy to consider it if you to write me at vernonk@cybermatsa.com.mx . If you are a proud owner of one of the masks placed in this wall of masks, and you do not want it displayed, please inform me and I will remove it and replace it with another. You might imagine that I can be flexible.

July 2008 Post:In the past I have attempted to select the "Mexican Mask of the Month" from the more recently acquired choices. Masks from the region that I search have become exceedingly scarce so I feel that I cannot continue to follow that policy. I will occasionally be including masks gathered in previous years. Since I have no record of earlier monthly selections, there exists the possibility that some that I select will be repeats. Good masks are so scarce that I might eventually have to rename this site to "Mexican Mask of the Year".
Vernon


	Wall of Fame Best Overall Selection for 2005 TITLE: Payaso -- Volador or Flying Clown MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 60 years CONDITION: excellent -- no doubt it has been affectionately repainted over the many years. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was found in the state of Veracruz. It was purchased from a 70 year old retired volador. I also purchased masks from his brother and one of his compadres, also ex-voladores. The voladores, or flyers, are the ones that go up a three story pole and fly back down on unwinding, spinning ropes--hanging upside down. It is uncommon now that the voladores use masks but in his time he did with this clown mask. The uniqueness of this mask is that it has four eye slits rather than two. One set of slits is below the painted eye and another set above. This was ideal because the wearer would have vision both up and down as the dancer hurdles down head first in this dangerous sport. This does not mean that all other four slitted masks were used by voladores but this type of mask is rare. The mask is exceptionally well carved with thin, stiff walls. There was a ritual and tears were shed before this mask left the owner's house. NOTICE: It is with sadness that I report that at or around 1:00 P.M. on 20 March 2006 in the community of El Tajín in Papantla, Veracruz the above mentioned volador, Jesús Arroyo Cerón, fell to his death after performing while descending from the volador pole. After performing at the top of the mast, he was the last to come down. Rather than come down the the more secure way of climbing down the pole, he chose to rappel down a rope. Apparently he did not slow his descent by wrapping the rope around a leg. The rope began to burn his hands and about half-way down he released the rope and fell to his death. I had enjoyed speaking with the man. I remember him telling me that no one in his group had ever fallen. He said that he had retired from the performances at around 60 years of age. This means that he had aged 10 years since, and he had been that many years without practice. Whatever compelled him to do this last performance, he died doing what was a great source of pride for him. You can read more of this, some in Spanish and some in English at: http://kostohryz.hypermart.net/salesite/volador/volador.html Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Best Overall Selection for 2006 TITLE: Large Carnival Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with horse hair fo facial hair APPROXIMATE SIZE: Tip of ear to tip of ear is 9 inches. 9 1/2 inches tall. ESTIMATED AGE: 50 + years old CONDITION: good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This huge mask was carved by a known carver in the state of Puebla near the border with the state of Veracruz. After purchasing the mask in the village we took the mask to the 83 year old carver who was born in 1923. He identified it as one he had done over 50 years ago. He still carves--but mostly furniture. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Best Overall Selection for 2007 TITLE: Payaso Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/2 ESTIMATED AGE: 40 years CONDITION: good--not shown in this view is a repaired crack running down the side of the face. Many years ago someone did a good job of repairing the crack but glue residue mars the finish surrounding the crack. I myself did some restorative filling of many worm holes on the back of the mask--but that is another story. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This very old payaso mask was carved by a known carver in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. The old customs of the dances are fading away and the 77 year old carver seldom carves new ones. He is usually in the fields working when we visit. He barely speaks Spanish. We did not purchase this mask directly from the carver but when we do visit, he and his pleasant family always invite us to eat. The carver was actually the same as the carver whose mask was selected the previous month (February 2007). This mask was carved much earlier in his career. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Best Overall Selection for 2008 TITLE: Red High Cheek-Boned Carnival Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years old CONDITION: very good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The carver of this great mask died in 1996. I have owned very large masks by this carver but I especially like this smaller, but normal size mask. The small size puts a lot of detail in a smaller space. The carver was born in 1921 and executed his works in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for January 2008 TITLE: Santiago Mask Repainted for Carnival MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50+ years old CONDITION: good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This beautiful old mask was found in the highlands of Veracruz. It has great patina on the back. The front has had more than one paint job over the years. I assume that the mask was originally used in the dance of Santiago. It was not uncommon to repaint mask with different designs for later carnivals. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for February 2008 TITLE: Jaguar Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood, animal (?) whiskers and eyebrows, cloth over plastic tongue APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 4 years CONDITION: very good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This jaguar mask was purchased from the owner's family in the northeastern highlands of Puebla. It was done by a known carver that did an excellent job. We saw the mask being danced at night inside a church in the town where we spent the night. It was being used in the dance of the voladores. We asked what the mask had to do with that dance and were told that the ancient Aztec dancers always had a live jaguar with them when they danced. We had to drive three hours out of the way to make the final purchase. With the mask maker on hand to help make the deal with the owner's family, after long deliberations, money changing hands, and agreement that the carver would make a replacement, we rapidly exited the scene. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for March 2008 TITLE: Century-Old Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 X 6 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 100 years old CONDITION: fair ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This rustic old mask was found in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. Obviously there have been a few strokes of newer paint added to complement the mostly faded old paint that once existed. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for April 2008 TITLE: Red High Cheek-Boned Carnival Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 3/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years old CONDITION: very good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The carver of this great mask died in 1996. I have owned very large masks by this carver but I especially like this smaller, but normal size mask. The small size puts a lot of detail in a smaller space. The carver was born in 1921 and executed his works in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for May 2008 TITLE: Huehue Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 60 years CONDITION: very good -- with slight paint wear on the tip of the nose. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This male huehue mask was carved by a now deceased man who had lived at different times on both sides of the border of Veracruz and Puebla. The moustache is carved from the wood of the face as opposed to having been carved separately and then tacked on. The man was one of the better carvers of the region. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for June 2008 TITLE: Diablo Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted wood -- probably mulberry, a hard, purplish wood. The horns are authentic goat. APPROXIMATE SIZE: face is 6 X 7 1/2 inches (11 inches tal counting horns) ESTIMATED AGE: 13 years CONDITION: very good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This well executed mask is from the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. We purchased this devils mask from a dancer that used it in the dance of the San Migueles. The mask carver died in 2003. The wife and son of the carver confirmed that the mask was approximately 13 years of age. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for July 2008 TITLE: Sleepy-Eyed Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/8 X 6 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 29 years old CONDITION: good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This old mask was made by a known carver in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for August 2008 TITLE: Perro Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with leather ears and stiff cloth tongue APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 1/2 X 6 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 35 years CONDITION: good -- the old leather ears are rplacements that are attached with string. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This old dog mask was used as an adjunct to the dance of the huehues. It has a fairly new coat of paint which is not unusual. Many times this is a yearly custom--to paint the masks to make them look better for the dances but with no idea that they would ever be sold. The mask was used in the state of Veracruz. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for September 2008 TITLE: Payaso MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 5 3/8 X 6 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 45 years old CONDITION: very good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This beautiful little clown mask was found in an isolated moutain top village in the state of Veracruz not far from the border with the state of Puebla. Since my last visit, I hear that there has been an improvement in the roads, so I am very anxious to get back. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for October 2008 TITLE: Female huehue Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 1/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 45 years CONDITION: good -- As with many much used masks, the paint is worn from the very tip of the nose. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This pretty female huehue was carved by a known carver in the state of Veracruz not far from the border with the state of Puebla. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for November 2008 TITLE: Moro mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 9 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 40 years CONDITION: good -- There is some specks appearing from paint loss and many spots left mostly on the backside and some on the front caused by insect droppings. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was carved by a now deceased carver who lived at one time on the Puebla side of the border and also on the Puebla side of the border. He did a great job, one of the better carvers of the region. I have had several of his masks. Notice the backside: the part of the backside of the beard that extends below the chin. See how the carver hollowed out that portion to make a comfortably lighter mask for the dancer. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for December 2008 TITLE: Snaggle-Tooth Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 1/4 inches X 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 14 years CONDITION: good--there is a vertical hairline crack which is pointed out in the enlargement of the back of the mask. That same crack is barely visible when facing the front of the mask, about an inch to the right of the top string hole. The last enlargement indicates a 3/4 inch deep space left from chunk of wood that was knocked out. From the front of the mask, the defect would only be visible if you really got down low to look for it under the chin. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was purchased in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla.. The son of a deceased mask carver identified the mask as the work of his father who was born in 1921 and died in 1996. We had been trying for some time to locate the carver of this and a few other similar masks that we had found nearby. We have combed the area well and are not optimistic of finding more. If the mouth looks unusual, it is because both the upper and the lower teeth are protruding. The mask is a rarity. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for January 2009 TITLE: Giant Oso Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood with rubber ears APPROXIMATE SIZE: back to front 19 inches, 11 inches high, and 11 inches wide ESTIMATED AGE: 30 years old CONDITION: good--I purchased the 30 year old mask from the original carver but the articulating jaw seems to be a replacement, no doubt restored by him. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This huge oso (bear) mask as shown here modeled by the carver, was found in the state of Veracruz close to the Border with Puebla. The articulated jaw is sustained by four strands of recently replaced rubber tubing. Another piece of rubber on the interior holds the mouth shut until the wearer pulls down on a cord tied to the underside of the chin. In publication, Entre los hombres y las deidades: Las danzas del Totonacapan, Rubén Croda León gives an interesting account of a complex, traditional dance which includes this oso character. He shows a picture taken in the same municipality where I purchased this huge mask. In the picture a dancer wearing a similar mask is is being dressed by another person with a cape covered with moss that simulates hair of the beast. Notice in the picture of the backside of my mask, there is a cutout that clears the dancer's neck so that his head can extend within the masks. The wearer has vision to the outside through the mouth when it is opened. There is also minimal vision through the two nostrils. This dance is apparently unique to a very small region and the mask itself is an equally unique find. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for February 2009 TITLE: Variation of Male huehue Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/2 X 7 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 30 years old CONDITION: very good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Not easily seen in the hairdo are the four large, unusual horseshoe shaped curls that are carved into the wood. This mask comes from the state of Veracruz close to the border with Puebla. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for March 2009 TITLE: Articulated Jaw Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 6 1/4 X 8 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 50 years old CONDITION: fair-- There is much wear on the paint. The nails securing the beard and moustache are unattractive. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask comes from the state of Puebla close to the border with Puebla. We believe we have the name of the deceased carver. The mask is unusual in that it has four eye slits making for better vision and it has an articulated jaw (with four rubber bands holding up the chin) allowing the mouth to be opened with the action of the chin or by pulling down on the beard. The facial hair was probably added by the dancer at some stage of its ownership after receiving the mask from the carver. The articulated jaw is exceptionlly well cut and might possibly have been cut by someone after delivery to the owner. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for April 2009 TITLE: Pink Pilato Mask MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7 X 9 3/4 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 25+ years CONDITION: very good -- a present day carver repainted this mask many years ago. Fallen flakes of paint on the forehead reveal the original pale pink color. A thin coat of that original paint also was used on the backside. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This mask was carved by a known, but deceased carver in the northeastern highlands of the state of Puebla. An unusual trademark of this carver is the apparent absence of the fifth string hole in the top, middle of the forehead. As seen in the back view, the string hole is visible there but not from the front because the hole slants upwards and goes out the top rim of the mask. I have displayed other masks from the same village that have this unique touch. Those other masks were carved by a living carver. That living carver told us that he actually copied this innovation many years ago from the now deceased carver of this mask. . He says that the carver of this mask was approximately 80 years old when he died around 20 years ago. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


	Wall of Fame Selection for May 2009 TITLE: muñecos Puppet Set MATERIAL: carved and painted heavy wood APPROXIMATE SIZE: box lid is 6 X 12 inches, height is 7 1/2 inches ESTIMATED AGE: 25 years old CONDITION: good ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: These finger puppets and the woodpecker were used in association with the dance of the huehues. With the use of strings, the pecking action of the woodpecker is controlled as the bird scurries up a pole to release a flag or flowers. The finger puppets perform looking over a large cloth sign. Two puppets and the woodpecker are tipically stored insde a chest the dimensions of the one included here. The chest is normally kept on the home alter until the next presentation. The out-of-proportion, huge hands are purposefully made that way for vigorous clapping. The carvings were done by a known carver in the state of Veracruz, near the border with Puebla. Click thumbnail photo to see another view:


Another mask will be posted around the end of every month.

Links to Related Sites


Border Antiques	Mexican Masks	Don Teodoro


end