Note:
With the high cost of shipping many of our customers choose to ship by USPS. For small and light shipments this is usually less expensive, but please be aware that their estimates are often wrong and their service can be very slow (sixteen days for Priority Mail from Philadelphia to New York City recently). The service is not always as economical as it may appear, particularly on larger or more valuable shipments. USPS estimates only include insurance up to $100 for its domestic shipments. If you ask for full insurance we will recalculate the shipping cost and send you an invoice for any difference in cost. For overseas shipments USPS will not insure for over $650. On request we can get estimates for overseas shipping from DHL.

masks

Bronze Ekpwe Society Mask from Cameroon
SKU: AFM-2205

Cameroon Grassfields region.
Face of man surmounted by male and female monkey figures in headdress.  Lost-wax cast bronze w/ mineral & organic patina (14 1/2” h. x 7 1/2” w. x 3 1/2” d.)

Ex. collection of Jonathan W. Fisher
ex. collection of Ralph Fisher
Purchased from Charles D. Miller III Gallery, New Haven. Ct., 1976.  

$3500

Mask Shop Retablo (Extra Large)
SKU: PRTB-166

Claudio Jimenez Quispe (Peru), 2019
Painted plaster sculpture in painted wood box
(18" h. x 11" w. x 4" d.)
This piece requires custom shipping due to size and fragility.  We will provide estimates on request.

$1900

Orodugu Baule mask with horns
SKU: AFM2201

Ivory Coast (Orodugu Baule region)
Wood (12 1/4” h. x 8 1/2” w. x 4 1/2” d.)

Ex. collection of Jonathan Fisher
ex. collection of Ralph Fisher
ex. Indigo Arts Gallery

$1500

Dan Poro Mask with blue eyes
SKU: AFM-2202

Poro secret society, Liberia
Wood with glass tube eyes, steel nail in forehead (9" h. x 5 1/4” w. 3 1/2” d.)

Ex. collection of Jonathan Fisher
ex. Charles D. Miler III, 1976.

$1200

Green Snake Mask attributed to Victoriano Salgado of Michoacan
SKU: MXM-156

Unsigned but attributed to Victoriano Salgado Morales (1920 - 2012)
Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico,
c.1970 - 1980
Maque lacquer on wood.
(11.5" H x 9" W x 6.5" D.)
Provenance: estate of artist William Scharf, NYC.

A prolific designer and maker of wooden, maque, decorative masks used by dancers in Purépecha fiestas, one of Grand Masters of Mexican Folk art and one of last skilled masters of this unique art form. Mr. Salgado learned this skill from several mask makers of the Magdalena neighborhood where he grew up. His first mask dates back to 1950 and it was a "Negrito" folk dance mask.

Victoriano's masks are not painted, the process used for color is a highly superior technique called "maque", which is a pre-hispanic process involving numerous applications of natural earth and insect pigments and oils applied with the palm of the hand that hardens into a brilliant, lustrous surface.

Mr. Salgado created over 60 different masks, the most famous: dance of the Señor Naranjo, and the dance of the Tataqueri, Corcovi, Negritos and Viejitos.

He passed away on September 2012 two weeks before receiving the Erendira Award, The highest prize given by the Michoacan State Government.

$1150

"Guerrero" Ball-player Mask attributed to Victoriano Salgado of Michoacan
SKU: MXM-137

Unsigned but attributed to Victoriano Salgado Morales (1920 - 2012)
Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico,
c.1970 - 1980
Maque lacquer on wood.
(9" h. x 7” w. x 5” d.)

A prolific designer and maker of wooden, maque, decorative masks used by dancers in Purépecha fiestas, one of Grand Masters of Mexican Folk art and one of last skilled masters of this unique art form.  Mr. Salgado learned this skill from several mask makers of the Magdalena neighborhood where he grew up. His first mask dates back to 1950 and it was a "Negrito" folk dance mask.

Victoriano's masks are not painted, the process used for color is a highly superior technique called "maque", which is a pre-hispanic process involving numerous applications of natural earth and insect pigments and oils applied with the palm of the hand that hardens into a brilliant, lustrous surface. 

Mr. Salgado created over 60 different masks, the most famous: dance of the Señor Naranjo, and the dance of the Tataqueri, Corcovi, Negritos and Viejitos.

He passed away on September 2012 two weeks before receiving the Erendira Award, The highest prize given by the Michoacan State Government.

$950

Pair of Fon Gelede Masks from Benin
SKU: AFM-2003

Fon, Benin, late 20th century
Pair of masks - Wood with red, green, yellow, black, white oil paints, remnants of rubber inner tube chin straps.  Initials "S.P." painted on the back of both masks (8” h x 6 1/2” w. x 8 1/2” d., 7 1/4" h. x 8” w. x 7 1/2” d.).  
Ex. collection of Nancy Josephson.  Purchased by collector in Benin, c.2000.

$950/pair

Makonde Face and Body Mask
SKU: afm-102

wood w/ mineral pigments
(19" h. x 8 1/4" w. x 5" d.)

Ex. Collection of Mary Sue and Paul Peter Rosen

$950

Sri Lankan Temple Mask
SKU: SMSK-2101

Sri Lanka, mid-20th century
Wood,  painted with oil and water-based paints.
(24” h. x 20” w. x 18” d.)

$875

Fon Gelede Mask with Bird
SKU: AFM-2001

Fon, Benin, late 20th century
Wood with red, green, yellow, black, white oil paint, with fabric hinge for wings, nylon strings (19"h. x 8 1/2"w. x 10" d.).  Wings and head of bird are operable by pulling strings.  
Ex. collection of Nancy Josephson.  Purchased by collector in Benin, c.2000.

$850

Fon Gelede Mask Surmounted by Snake in Jar
SKU: AFM-2002

Fon, Benin, late 20th century
Wood with red, green, yellow, black, white oil paints, nylon string (18"h. x 6 1/2"w. x 8" d.).  Snake in pot is operable by pulling string.  
Ex. collection of Nancy Josephson.  Purchased by collector in Benin, c.2000.

$850

“Se we ya wem” Diable mask
SKU: HMSK-58

Unknown artist. Jacmel, Haiti.
Painted papier maché, fabric, rubber and cow-horn (14 1/2" h. x 20” w. 14” d. not including tongue and fabric) c. 1989.
I have been told that “Se wè ya wèm” means : "A little while, and you will no longer see me".
Ex. collection of Rudi Stern.

Note: this is a vintage piece collected over thirty years ago, and displayed by the collector.  Some wear and chipping of paint is to be expected.

$850

Antique Balinese Barong Mask
SKU: INDOM-027

Marong mask with operable jaws.
Bali, Indonesia, early to mid 20th cent.
Wood, leather, canvas, rubber, fabric, water-based and oil-based paints.
(9" h. x 17" w. x 17" d.).

$850

Cameroon Grassfields Mask
SKU: AFM-2009

Grassfields region, Cameroon (probably Bamum people), mid-20th century.
Wood w/ organic patina (13" h. x 9" w. x 6 3/4" d.).

Ex. collection of Jonathan W. Fisher
Purchased in Cameroon, c. 1970. 

$850

Tibetan Demon Mask
SKU: TBM-2001

Tibet, late 19th to early 20th cent.
Fabric and papier maché,  painted.
(9 3/4" h. x 9 1/2" w. x 10" d.)

$750

Yoruba Gelede Mask
SKU: AFM-10

Yoruba people, Nigeria
wood w/ oil paint (8 1/2"h. x 8"w. x 10"d.)

$750 (with stand)

Dogon Walu Mask
SKU: AFM-06

Dogon people, Mali,
wood w/ kaolin, black and red pigment
(24"h.x 8" w.)

$750

Tiger Carnival Mask
SKU: HMSK-66

Unknown artist. Jacmel, Haiti.
Painted papier maché, fabric, rubber and sisal rope fiber (14" h. x 14” w. x 15” d. (not counting hair) c. 2000.

 
Ex collection of Nancy Josephson.

$650

"Vieja" Maque mask from Michoacan
SKU: mxm-140

Unsigned but attributed to Victoriano Salgado Morales (1920 - 2012)
Dance of Los Viejitos.  Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico,
mid-20th century.
"Maque" lacquer on carved wood.
(8 3/4” h. x 6 5/8” w. x 5 1/2” d.)

$575

"Carnaval 86" "Djab" mask
SKU: HMSK-67

Unknown artist. Jacmel, Haiti.
Painted papier maché and cow-horn (24" h. x 27” w. x 12” d.) 1986.
Ex. collection of Rudi Stern.

Note: this is a vintage piece collected over thirty years ago, and displayed by the collector.  Some wear and chipping of paint is to be expected.

$550