Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Latin America, Guatemala, ca. 19th century CE. A fascinating pair of carved wood skull molds used for creating the elaborate festival masks iconic to Latin American dances and holiday parades. Both are grinning with sunken orifices. Artisans used these molds to shape wet papier mache, once dried, the masks were painted and embellished with feathers or other materials. Skull masks were mainly used to represent deceased loved ones during Day of The Dead (Dia de los Muertos) holiday celebrated throughout many Latin and South American cultures.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Florida, USA collection

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#184088

  • Condition: Wear as expected with age and use. Losses to the chin of the darker mold. Chips and stable pressure fissures throughout. Patina and luster to surfaces of both.

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March 1, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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