Vintage Guatemalan Calavera Mask

• Artist: Unknown
• Origin: Chichicastenango, Guatemala
• Material: Hand-carved wood, natural and acrylic pigments

Catalogue Note:

This Guatemalan hand-carved mask represents a calavera (death figure), a traditional character in highland festival dramas such as the Baile de la Conquista and Baile de la Muerte. The exaggerated skeletal grin, with rows of sharp red teeth outlined in black, immediately identifies it with the imagery of mortality and the underworld. Painted cheeks, radiating lashes, and arched brows intensify its theatrical presence, designed to be seen from a distance in crowded processions and ritual performances.

The interior shows strong adze and gouge tool marks, with surface wear consistent with mid-20th century folk carving from the Chichicastenango trade orbit. Masks of this type are rare survivals of authentic highland dance practice and exemplify the blending of Indigenous Maya symbolism with Catholic narrative introduced during the colonial period. This example would have embodied death itself, a fearsome yet essential figure in community drama, reinforcing cycles of life, ritual, and renewal.

Highlights:

• Vintage Guatemalan calavera (death figure) mask with skeletal grin
• Hand-carved wood with sharp triangular teeth painted in red and black
• Expressive highland features including bold cheeks, brows, and lashes
• Used in traditional festival dances blending Maya and Catholic themes
• Exceptional for ethnographic collections, gallery display, or striking interior design