WILD GUATEMALAN WOODEN HAND-CARVED, PAINTED CARNIVAL HORNED DEVIL SNAKE MASK

Description

FEATURED:  A fascinating example of GuatemalanTraditional Folk Art, this hand-carved & painted wooden HORNED DEVIL SNAKE MASK was used in dances & celebrations during holidays, especially during the Christmas season, worn in parades, dances, carnivals, and ceremonies honoring ancient beliefs and customs,  are also worn to honor ancient local patron saints/gods, who the Catholic Church considered demons, or 'devils'.  The devil, in pre-Christian cultures, is associated with death but not in a negative way, seen as benign and somewhat humorous, often in the company of clowns, and is not the symbol of evil and hell that it is in Western cultures. This stems from their not having a concept of Hell, and the Devil, as we do in the modern Christian world.  The snake, often seen on Devil Masks, is in many cultures such as Guatemala,  a symbol of strength, leadership and a symbol of water, and is an important positive symbol, not a fearful one.  Here we find both combined on one mask, done in local woods by mask-makers known for their talents and tradition of making these, which are typically worn by men during the ceremonies.  The tradition of masks used in cultures such as Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Africa, for rituals and ceremonies dates back thousands of years, and is an important part of many cultures still today.  This wonderful piece, in rich yellow, with colorful accents on its face, and the snake, which winds around it from ear to ear, done in white with black bands, makes this even more haunting and powerful!  This mask also has real bull horns to further dramatize this piece, and is at once both pretty scary and pretty fabulous!  We have seen these with battery-operated lights behind the mask, hung on a wall, with great dramatic effect at night!  A super slice of traditional, centuries-old Guatemalan customs that have been passed down through many generations to today, where items such as this are still valued and respected in the their culture, which it should be, and used by people to honor their pasts, beliefs, and rituals.
MEASURES:  12 inches tall, @ 8 inches across, and @ 10 inches deep, made of local hand-carved wood and also hand-painted by men whose families historically have continued this tradition from generation to generation for centuries; this style of mask is most often found countries like Guatemala, Haiti, and in Mexican states of Colima, Guerrero, and Michoacan, and are found at carnivals and celebrations, especially during the Christmas and religious holidays. These are actually worn in parades and dances, almost always by men.  This one is in excellent condition, purchased in its present state by a folk art collector who traveled frequently all over the world to add to his extensive collection.  Its masculine, simple & stark face, with slashes of colored paints, those wild horns, and intense expression are just terrific, and this is a great addition to any folk art collection, tribal/ethnographic arts collection, or for a home where an appreciation of hand-crafted artwork is valued and respected.  This should be a great guardian piece to place by your door, warding off negative spirits and energies with its powerful double protection of the devil and the snake!
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