mask

• Object: mask
• Artist: -
• Circa: 1980
• Dimensions: -
• Culture Area: mesoamerica / Guatemala
• Cultural Group: Maya
• Cultural Context: These wood-carved and colorfully painted masks are associated with one of the oldest Guatemalan dance-drama performances. The earliest evidence of the Baile del Patzcar or the Baile Patza (the Plantation Boss’s Dance) comes from 1862 but it is believed that the dance originated earlier. The dancers wear these masks to clearly show which character they are portraying; the masks with oversized, swollen goiters are believed to mimic the swollen lymph nodes of someone infected with smallpox which was introduced by the Spaniards. Other characters among these diseased “lepers” included a cruel coffee and tobacco plantation owner and his much kinder wife Lola who could magically heal the suffering laborers. There was an emphasis on comedy in these plays, with the masked dancers acting erratically and clumsily, but also a sense of drama and tragedy; somewhat like a Shakespeare play! These masks became a common tourist collector’s item during the 20th century because of the unique range of different characters in fun, bold colors and their impressive craftsmanship as they are all handmade by dedicated artists. Our collection of masks was donated by a local Sonoma County woman who bought them on her trip to Guatemala in the 80’s. This mask is almost certainly one of the smallpox-diseased characters because of his goiter and blue-turning face.
• Donor: Jeanne Sloane
• Catalog #: 112.052