Description:

Mexico, Michoacan, Tonala, 20th century CE. This is a carved and painted mask with a striking face -- brilliantly blue eyes, radiating eyelashes, and a slightly parted mouth. The Tastaoanes painted mask tradition comes from the town of Tonala, where, every July 25th, dozens of the town's male residents don masks and transform themselves into the legendary Tastaones, fighting against Santiago (Saint James the Greater). The term Tastoan may come from the Nahuatl word tlatoani, which means lord or spokesperson, and some people in the town see this ritual as symbolic of the indigenous Mexicans' fight against the Spanish conquistadors. Size: 7" H (17.8 cm)

Exhibited: Mexican Masks of the 20th Century: A Living Tradition; Morris Museum; Morristown NJ.

Provenance: Ex- New York Gallery, The Tryworks Collection compiled by the Rev. Richard and Jean Kellaway of Fairhaven, MA.

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#113506

  • Condition: Expected wear, slight loss to cheek.

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May 12, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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