This Guatemalan hand-carved jaguar mask, created by the renowned Aj Canil family of Chichicastenango, is a striking example of mid-century Mayan folk art and indigenous highland ceremonial tradition. Painted in vivid yellow with bold black striping, dotted rosettes, and fiery red-orange ears, the mask radiates the fierce presence of the jaguar spirit. Two prominent white fangs and a deep red mouth add to its dramatic stage impact, hallmarks of masks worn in highland dance-dramas and festive processions.
In the rich cosmology of Mesoamerican heritage, the jaguar embodies strength, guardianship, and the ability to traverse between worlds. In Guatemalan festival traditions, such masks allow the wearer to channel these attributes, transforming performance into an act of cultural continuity. The Aj Canil family’s craftsmanship reveals precise carving, confident brushwork, and an intuitive sense of pattern balance, creating a piece equally compelling as an ethnographic artifact and as a bold design statement.
Highlights:
Authentic Guatemalan jaguar ceremonial dance mask with vivid symbolic coloration
Hand-carved and painted by the Aj Canil family, Chichicastenango
Exemplifies Mayan and highland Guatemalan folk art traditions
Exceptional for gallery display, ethnographic collections, or as a focal point in luxury interiors
