Mexican antique VTG ritual ceremonial Guerrero Diablo Devil dance mask RED EYES

Description

Mexican antique vintage ritual ceremonial Guerrero Diablo Devil dance mask. Eyes are RED . Hand carved and hand painted. The mask dimensions are: from bottom to top is about 12 inches. Ear to ear width is about 6 inches. Horn to horn width is 14 inches. Mask depth is about 3 inches.  Previous owner repaired the wired hanging in back. See photos for very good condition. Over more than 200 years the Mezcala region of San Francisco, Ozomatlan, Guerrero Mexico has been a known wood mask making center. The artisans use soft wood like the wood from the Tzompamitl tree and others to form masks into devils, angels, human faces and animal masks. This mask represents the Devil or Diablo.   "The Devil Masks are used in various dances and representations during Christmas; some of these representations are called Pastorelas, and tell how a shepherd on his way to visit baby Jesus is tempted by the devil." Yes, they represent evil but these devils are meant to be humorous and amuse the spectators.