236. A Lot of Mexican Masks

Comprising a carved polychromed wooden mask of a Christian character, from the dance of the Moors and Christians, state of origin unknown. This dance has been enacted from early post-conquest times in Mexico by the Mexican Indians, and gives the Indians a psychological opportunity to play the part of victors by routing the Moors in this dance. This mask has large expressive blue eyes accentuated by raised eyebrows and a furrowed brow. the cheeks are daubed with red, and a line of red accentuates the lobes of the nostrils. Sometimes this red on the nose is used to show a wound; a polychromed and carved mask depicting a Moorish character; a carved and polychromed wooden mask representing Juan Negro, one of two characters from the dance of Panols, from the state of Vera Cruz. The dance pits a black farmer against a ladino foreman for the affections of the landowner's daughter. Her father chooses the foreman as her suitor.

100/200     SOLD: $115.00

Condition; slight paint and surface loss.