Antique Papua New Guinea Hand-Carved Tribal Mask, Sepik River Region, Early 20th
Located in Miami, FL
Antique Papua New Guinea Hand-Carved Tribal Mask, Sepik River Region, Early 20th Century An evocative and finely crafted tribal mask from Papua New Guinea, likely originating from t...
Natural Fiber
Large Basketry Gable Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in Highland, IN
A beautiful and large example of Oceanic art, this delightful woven mask would have been used on the gable of a middle Sepik meeting house. The wildly expressive form is accentuated ...
Cane, Rattan, Wood
Fiber Polychrome Mask Yam Ancestor Papua New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
The mask was a classic tribal art piece from Abelam people who live in Maprik area of the Mid Sepik River region in Papua New Guinea.
Acrylic, Natural Fiber
Woven Encrusted Basketry Old Yam Mask Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old woven fairly flat basketry yam mask from Papua New Guinea. Hollow woven form with old layers of black and white pigments from many years of ceremonial use.
Organic Material
Woven Encrusted Painted Basketry Old Yam Helmet Mask Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old woven painted basketry yam helmet style mask from Papua New Guinea. Hollow woven form with many layers of red and white pigments from many years of ceremonial use.
Organic Material
Woven Encrusted Painted Basketry Old Yam Mask Papua New Guinea ex Lawes
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old woven painted basketry yam mask from Papua New Guinea. Hollow woven form with old layers of pink and white pigments from many years of ceremonial use.
Organic Material
Sepik River Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
Antique Basketry mask acquired in the 1950s from the Sepik River Valley of Papua New Guinea.
Clay, Wood, Feathers
Abelam Basketry Yam Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in Frankfurt, Hessen, DE
Elaborately crafted Abelam mask from the late 20th century. The Abelam people in Papua New Guinea produce two types of basketry masks.
Wicker
Oceanian Bamboo Mask with Long Hair from New Guinea
Located in Pasadena, CA
Ceremonial mask from the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, associated with the dance traditions of the Eastern Highlands.
Shell, Natural Fiber, Wood
Sepic River Tribal Masks on Base
Located in New York, NY
Tribal Masks from Sepic River, New Guinea. Priced individually.
Iron
New Ireland Malagan Mask
Located in Hershey, PA
A mask made in a monumental size.
Wood, Shell, Clay, Pigment
Sawos People Yam Ceremonial Mask
Located in 3 Oaks, MI
Intricately woven Yam ceremony mask from the Sawos People with earthen white pigment and feathers surrounding the perimeter. Incredible presence and scale. Displayed on a wooden st...
Decorative Objects in the Style of Sepik River Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
A striking tribal mask with a beard of natural fibers that add a human quality to the starkness of the wood.
Tribal Yam Mask on Stand
Located in Toronto, ON
This decorative basket yam mask is an integral part of the yam harvest rituals and ceremonies of Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea MEI Mask from Tambanum Village
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A impressive mask, it was mine for the last twenty five years, It look scary, but actually it is to protect you again evil spirit, it is from the middle sepik river, from the Tamba...
Wood, Shell
Vintage Baining Fire Dance Mask, Papua New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
A Baining fire dance helmet mask (Kavat), late 20th century, Gazelle Peninsula, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia.
Bamboo, Raffia
Large Antique Mask, Papua New Guinea Oceanic, 19th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
We believe it to be oceanic, perhaps from the Papua New Guinea region but to be perfectly honest are having a tough time placing its exact origins.
Wood
Heavy Oceanic Papua New Guinea or African Carved Wood Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
It was listed as being from Papua New Guinea but could be from another region.
Wood
Large Sepik River Tribe Carved Wood Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in Studio City, CA
Truly a spectacular piece in Scope and design. Carved by a master wood carver from a single piece of wood and decorated with traditional pigments. This particular mask is from the...
Natural Fiber, Wood
Oceanic Sepik River Gable Figure Sculpture from Papua, New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
From a private collection comes this great Oceanic Papua New Guinea gable figure. This piece is both beautiful from the hand-carving to the symbolism. Gable figures are almost alway...
Wood
Abelam Papua New Guinea Woven Yam Mask
Located in Rochester, NY
An Abelam Papua New Guinea finely woven yam mask decorated with vegetable based pigment paint over clay.
Clay, Paint, Organic Material
Sold
H 13 in W 11.5 in D 3 in
Woven Basketry Flat Yam Mask with Sculptural Face Papua New Guinea bird face
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Woven basketry yam helmet mask from Papua New Guinea. Flat form with projecting nose and eyes, encrusted surface. 13 inches high, mid 20th century.
Organic Material
Sold
H 15.5 in W 7.5 in D 6 in L 15.5 in
Woven Painted Basketry Old Yam Mask with Sculptural Bird Face, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early woven painted basketry yam mask from Papua New Guinea. Bug eyed or bird faced mask with heavy incrustation from many years of use, a striking mask that easily hangs on the wall.
Organic Material
Sold
H 18.75 in W 8.5 in D 6.5 in
Woven Basketry Figural Pectoral Chest Ornament Figure Papua New Guinea tusks
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Woven basketry figural pectoral chest ornament with from Papua New Guinea. Woven yam mask style face with traces of red, black and yellow pigments, rings of attached cowrie shells an...
Organic Material
Rare New Guinea Maprik Painted Mask on Palm Frond, Geometric Design
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A very rare mask with faded but still bright yellow, black and red paint on a triangular shaped or carved palm frond, from the Maprik peoples of Papua New Guinea, mid 20th century.
Organic Material
Early 20th Century Extra Large Yam Mask from Paupa New Guinea
Located in Wainscott, NY
Early 20th century extra large yam mask from Paupa New Guinea. Wonderful ceremonial mask on a rather large size for the type of mask mounted with classic Yam mask details.
Reed
Sold
H 9.5 in W 5.5 in D 4.25 in
Two Small Tightly Woven Basketry New Guinea Yam Masks, Incrusted Paints
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Two small tightly woven Basketry New Guinea Yam masks, with incrusted paints and surfaces. Used to decorate large yams during the annual harvest ceremonies. Great expressive small ar...
Organic Material
Papua New Guinea Miniture Mask, Early 20th Century
Located in Hudson, NY
Papua New Guinea miniature mask, early 20th century Vars collection, hew haven, CT.
New Guinea ceremonial mask.
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A carved , painted and adorned New Guinea ceremonial mask . Please see our other posting for some information regarding the four masks we posted today. Probably from the lower Sepik ...
Wood, Paint, Feathers, Shell
New Guinea ceremonial woven grass mask
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A fairly rare ceremonial woven grass mask from New Guinea . Probably the Abelam region. Please read our desription on the other woven mask we have posted for some information. I foun...
New Guinea ceremonial woven grass mask
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
One of four New Guinea tribal masks that we recently acquired at an estate auction , from the estate of a family who collected as far back as the 30's in New York City. Apparently it...
Maprik Basketry Mask, Papua New Guinea
Located in Asheville, NC
Sepik river Basket mask, A large Maprik basketry mask, Papua New Guinea, of upright form with pierced eyes, protruding central flange and crest, decorated with ochre, orange and blac...
Large New Guinea Ceremonial Mask
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A fantastic and huge ceremonial mask from New Guinea , possibly lower Sepik region. Please read our postings for 3 other New Guinea masks for some further information. Over 5 feet hi...
Wood, Shell
$800
H 15.5 in W 9 in D 4 in
African Gabon Late 20th Century Carved Wood Galwa Mask with Encircling Snake
Located in Queens, NY
African Gabon Late 20th Century carved wood Galwa mask in tapered ovoid form with overlapping brow, protruding angular nose, geometric eye and mouth holes, 2 side holes plus a styliz...
$725
H 9.65 in W 6.7 in D 0.02 in
Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Tribal Mask from Atoni Tribe Timor
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This very flat mask originates from the Atoni people of Timor, featuring two very small eye holes. For the Timorese people masks portray both male and female ancestors, worn by warri...
Wood
Mid 20th Century Hand Carved African Fertility Mask, Akan People
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very decorative fertility mask by the Baule tribe, associated with the Akan people who live both in Ghana and in the Ivory Coast. The sides with three small holes on either side pr...
Wood
$587Sale Price / item|46% Off
H 15.36 in Dm 5.91 in
African Katanda Mask – Lega Tribe, DR Congo – Mid 20th Century
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bring a piece of African heritage into your space with this authentic vintage Katanda mask from the Lega people of DR Congo. Hand-carved in the mid-20th century, this tribal mask is ...
Hardwood
A fine Kuba Mask - Rustic African Folk Art
Located in Skien, NO
Ngaady aMwaash Mask. African Antique Folk Art Kuba Mask, originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Property from a Private Collection. Acquired by a Norwegian Collector...
Softwood
$3,898
H 12.6 in W 6.7 in D 3.15 in
Very Rare African Dagara Mask Ngbaka People DR Congo Early to Mid 20th Century
Located in Meer, VAN
Very rare African Dagara mask Ngbaka people. Africa, Congo, early to mid 20th century A beautiful early to mid 20th century African so called 'Dagara’ mask from the Ngbaka and Mbanj...
Wood
$1,250
H 14 in W 7.5 in D 7.75 in
African Songye Luba Congo Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe Wood Carved Ceremonial Dance Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful hand carved wood Kifwebe mask created by the Songye and Luba peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kifwebe mask are used by the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe secret socie...
Wood, Paint
18/1900s A Fine Bena Lulua Mask - Primitive African Folk Art
Located in Skien, NO
Antique Bena Lulua Mask Late 1800s to Early 1900s – Democratic Republic of the Congo This striking primitive folk art mask hails from the Bena Lulua people of the Democratic Republi...
Softwood
$1,750
H 10.75 in W 6.75 in D 2.75 in
Old Classic Shape Lega Congo Carved Wood Mask Without Eyes, DRC Old Patina
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early old carved wood mask without eyes, from the Lega peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Old patina, Simple elegant heart shaped face with long nose and raised eyebrows....
Wood
$2,950
H 12.5 in W 6 in D 7 in
Early Salampasu Warrior's Wood Mask, Zaire, Africa, Early 20th Century ex Willis
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early carved wood Salampasu Warrior's Mask with black finish, Zaire, Africa early 20th century, remains of black and white pigments, on custom stand. Strong angular cubist mask wit...
Wood
$885Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in
Chokwe Mask – Mid 20th Century – Angola – African Tribal Art
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bring home a piece of ancestral heritage with this authentic Chokwe mask from Angola, crafted in the mid-20th century. Rooted in deep cultural tradition, Chokwe masks were once used ...
Hardwood
Vintage African Tribal Mask, Hand-Crafted Wood and Shell, 1970s Art
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Intriguing good looking mask artistically made of combination of hand crafted beads ,shells , and hand painted wood. To make such a exceptional object of art for display. Custom-mad...
Shell, Wood, Beads
$1,450
H 15.5 in W 5.38 in D 3 in
Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Woven Raffia Talipun Mask Red Pigments ex Hamson
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Papua New Guinea Sepik tightly woven raffia mask from a talipun bride price currency piece. Old very encrusted surface. Areas of red and other pigments. Wonderful heart shaped...
Organic Material
Kuba "Bwoom" mask - DR Congo - first half 20th century
By Kuba
Located in Bilzen, BE
Kuba "Bwoom" mask - DR Congo - first half 20th century Royal Kuba mask of the Bwoom type, carved in wood and covered with characteristic polychromy in shades of ochre, black, white a...
Fabric, Natural Fiber, Wood
$230
H 18 in W 7.5 in D 6 in
Antique Hand-Carved Liberian Wood Mask, Aged Patina, West African Tribal Art
Located in New York, NY
Antique hand-carved wood mask from Liberia, West African tribal art with an aged patina. This hand-carved Liberian mask brings depth and focus to a space. Its elongated form and par...
Wood
$550
H 12 in W 8.25 in D 6.5 in
Hemba Soko Mutu Ape Mask - Tribal Wood Art from Congo, late 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A Monkey mask (Soko Mutu), of the Hemba / Bahembe tribe, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Late 20th Century, possibly earlier. Amongst the Hemba there are tw...
Raffia, Wood
Today, art enthusiasts and venturesome interior designers find a lot to love and appreciate about antique and vintage masks, particularly as they have earned a distinct place amid a collection of folk art and other collectibles and curiosities in contemporary homes.
Folk art refers to art that people, not classically trained, created for either utilitarian or decorative purposes. With respect to visual art in folk art, it is typically reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition. Masks, as part of this history, have been used in carnivals, theater, medicine, therapy, religion and more. The use of masks in rituals and sacred ceremonies goes back thousands of years, and masks in general are believed to be much older. And all kinds of other uses have been found for masks and face coverings over time. We have enlisted these accessories for protection, to signal modesty, facilitate flirtation, enable licentiousness or simply to look cool.
Archaeologists found a mask in Palestine that is believed to be 9,000 years old, a Neolithic-era stone mask that may have been part of rituals associated with the worship of ancestors. Some tribal masks are worn as an offering to the gods. Masks are among the most important African art forms, for example, and traditional African masks can be used to lend a concrete form to an invisible spirit. Dancers donning wooden tribal masks celebrate important events to honor their deceased ancestors. These masks are also very important devices for storytelling and sharing the oral history of a community.
For Asian artists, specific colors are used in masks to convey different values and ideas. In Japan, a red Oni mask worn by performers during a festival might signify anger, while in China’s Peking Opera, a mask that has been hand-painted gold would be worn by an immortal.
Mexican craftspeople make masks for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater. A common symbol of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead is a skull, which is widely represented in masks (although the innumerable activities associated with the holiday are by no means universal).
We’re inviting you to explore and pay respect to the long folk-art traditions that underpin mask-making by introducing antique and vintage masks to your space. Find an exciting collection on 1stDibs today.
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.