Vintage Guatemalan Red Jaguar Mask

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

Catalogue Note:

Vivid highland jaguar mask from the Aj Canil family workshop, carved with a strong muzzle and open jaw to show two elongated fangs. The face is painted a saturated red with concentric circular rosettes in blue, teal, and yellow, black whisker lines along the snout, and yellow interior mouth and ears. White lash marks radiate around the eye openings. The reverse shows tool marks, wear from use, and the original pink cord, consistent with festival handling. This is a bold mid-century Guatemalan dance mask that reads with power on the wall and authenticity in hand.

In highland celebrations the jaguar is a guardian and a figure of strength. Masks like this allow the dancer to step into that role, carrying forward Maya and Guatemalan folk art tradition through performance. The carving is confident, the paintwork intentional, and the composition balanced for stage visibility and display.

Highlights:

• Authentic Guatemalan jaguar dance mask with striking red ground and circular rosettes
• Hand-carved and painted by the Aj Canil family of Chichicastenango
• Open jaw with twin carved fangs and yellow-painted interior for dramatic presence
• Reverse shows tool marks, edge wear, and original pink hanging cord
• Excellent for gallery display, ethnographic collections, or statement interiors