Vintage Felipe Horta - "Diablo De Pastorela" Hand Carved Mask - One of A Kind!!!

Description

DESCRIPTION:
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In the Mexican world of mask making, Felipe Horta is a master. He is internationally renowned for creating amazing dance masks. From an article about the artist: "Felipe is a mask-maker, or mascarero, from Tocuaro, Michoacan, Mexico. He has dedicated himself since the age of 12 to producing masks for the pastorela (Shepherd's Tale) danzas, which are performed in his community and throughout Michoacan. Blending venerable allegory with symbols and scripts from popular culture, these dynamic performances that discuss and depict faith, sin, and salvation, also comment upon the joys and struggles of everyday life in contemporary Mexico. Felipe has introduced innovative, fine sculpting techniques into the thriving, vibrant art of mask making, and his exquisite masks are embraced and sought after by dancers and others in his community. Pavel Shlossberg, a scholar who has conducted ethnographic research in Felipe's community and nearby regions, wrote an article 'James Carey, the Devil and his Masks, Journalism and the Shepherd's Play in Michoacan, Mexico', in which he describes how pueblos all over Michoacan and through rural Mexico have their own particular fiesta days, and during these special, holy days, many members of the village community will celebrate communion together, and feast together, and also attend pastorela plays, or perhaps some other morality/mystery plays, which are performed during the fiesta each year. Pavel observed that in Tocuaro and in many other pueblos throughout Mexico, artisans carve some diabolic masks and some saintly masks each year, which are lent and sold to local dancers. Felipe has long contributed to these productions, as he has been carving for most of his life, having learned the skill from his father, noted mask-maker Eustacio Horta Castillo, when he was young." This particular mask is exactly
one of the demons, and it is one of the most intricate of those offered. It has a bird figure on the demon's forehead, the bird's wings forming eyebrows for the demon. The demon's horns curve around, almost like a bull's horns. The demon's jaws are outlined by a pair of rattlesnakes, and the two sides come together at the chin and loom almost like a eyes. If you purchase works direction from Horta, this size fetches between 0-750. If you purchase his works from a gallery in Santa Fe, the masks of this size sell for 00.
The mask measures about 13" tall by about 15" wide across the horns and closer to 11" side if you measure ear to ear. The piece when hanging is about 10" from the wall. The horns and fangs are removable and will be removed for shipping. The horns are tied with light rope, once inserted correctly, so they don't fall out too easily when inserted.
DETAILS:
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The mask was made and signed by Felipe Horta. August 7, 2008.
Felipe Horta is a renowned craftsman, devoted mainly to the elaboration of carved wood masks. He is one of the most outstanding craftsmen in the state and has had his work shown Nationally and Internationally.
Felipe is from the Lake Pasquaro area, in the state of Michoacan.
He is following the Family Tradition of carving wood and has 40+yrs of experience
His work is based on traditional masks made of the copal tree.
You can add wall mounting hardware or just sit it on a piece of furniture.
The mask is hand carved and hand painted with automotive paint.
This makes the colors of the masks very bright. (darker and shinier in person).
The mask has removable horns and fangs.
Mexican mask-folk art refers to the making and use of masks for various traditional dances and ceremony in Mexico. Evidence of mask making in the country extends for thousands of years and was a well-established part of ritual life in Mexico when the Spanish arrived.
In the early colonial period, evangelists took advantage of native customs of dance and mask to teach the Catholic faith although later, colonial authorities tried to ban both unsuccessfully.
Mask traditions have continued to evolve into new forms, depicting Mexico’s history and newer forms of popular culture such as lucha libre. Most traditional masks are made of wood, with others made from leather, wax, cardboard, paper mache and other materials. Common depictions in masks include Europeans (Spanish, French, hacienda owners, etc.), Afro-Mexicans old men and women, animals, and the fantastic/supernatural, especially demons/the Devil.
Tall/Height- 14" (with horns)
Height- 13" (without horns)
Wide- 20" (Including horns)
Wide- 9" (without horns)
This mask has many details along with Four red Tipped horns.
Great for collectors of Mexican masks or for anyone that loves masks.
https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/cara-de-diablo-felipe-hortas-handcrafted-masks