Vintage Mexican Festival Dance Mask, VERY RARE, Black Child, Afro - Mexican, C. 1940
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:24682376 | Culture: Mexican |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: Mexico | Modified Item: No |
| Handmade: Yes |
Very rare !!! Child's size black face mask from the Oaxaca Afro-Mexican region of Mexico.
Pricing includes shipping to the 48 contiguous states in the US.
There is an indigenous Black Mexican people in Mexico, Afro-Mexican culture, that until recently, were not recognized by the Mexican government.
I took the following description from Culturetrip.com: "The Untold History of Afro-Mexicans, Forgotten Ethnic Group"
"History of Afro-Mexicans Contrary to what... many people realize, Mexico was a slave trading country in the 16th century, having a population of around 200, 000 principally West African slaves that outnumbered the Spanish colonialists for decades and was for some time the largest in the Americas.Black slaves were typically used by the Spanish to act as foremen, overseeing the indigenous populations, and many of the (mostly male) slave population actually went on to marry indigenous women. Therefore, and due to the many resulting mixed-race offspring, black Mexicans were all but forgotten about for centuries, as their bloodlines mixed with other indigenous communities and mestizo peoples of Mexico. This erasure from Mexican history was only intensified post-Mexican Revolution when European and indigenous bloodlines, rather than African heritage, were brought to the fore as sources of national pride.It was only in recent years that self-identified Afro-Mexicans have fought for recognition, achieving it in 2015 with the preliminary census which listed ‘negro’ (black) as one of the ethnicity options. Afro-Mexicans will have to wait until 2020 before this category is included on a ‘full’ census though. Notably, this move of official recognition on the part of the government leaves Chile as the only Latin American country to not formally recognize its black population."This is a mask of celebration worn in the Afro-Mexican festivals and is a symbol of their fight for recognition.
It is very rare to find these old vintage black Afro-Mexican masks, but even more rare that it was carved for a child.
I acquired this mask more than 20 years ago and it has part of my collection.
I have not cleaned this mask.
The dirt seen in the photos is surface dirt that can be easily cleaned.
I have left it in the original condition as purchased.
Authentic, original and in great condition considering its age.
The condition is as seen the pictures. There is small area in the forehead under the paint that is slightly hollowed from insect damage. If I push on the paint it feels like maybe 1/8 inch of depression in this small area.
I have treated this years ago and the problem was stopped. But if you push on this area be gentle.
I have circled the are part affected in one om photos.
There are NO additional import fees or charges associated with this item shipping into the US.
NO additional cost to buyer.
NOTE : SHIPPING is within the 48 contiguous states ONLY and EXCLUDES Hawaii, Alaska, and US Territories outside this area. Special arrangements can be made in advance to ship to these areas with an additional cost.
Please contact me for pricing.
Pricing includes shipping to the 48 contiguous states in the US.
There is an indigenous Black Mexican people in Mexico, Afro-Mexican culture, that until recently, were not recognized by the Mexican government.
I took the following description from Culturetrip.com: "The Untold History of Afro-Mexicans, Forgotten Ethnic Group"
"History of Afro-Mexicans Contrary to what... many people realize, Mexico was a slave trading country in the 16th century, having a population of around 200, 000 principally West African slaves that outnumbered the Spanish colonialists for decades and was for some time the largest in the Americas.Black slaves were typically used by the Spanish to act as foremen, overseeing the indigenous populations, and many of the (mostly male) slave population actually went on to marry indigenous women. Therefore, and due to the many resulting mixed-race offspring, black Mexicans were all but forgotten about for centuries, as their bloodlines mixed with other indigenous communities and mestizo peoples of Mexico. This erasure from Mexican history was only intensified post-Mexican Revolution when European and indigenous bloodlines, rather than African heritage, were brought to the fore as sources of national pride.It was only in recent years that self-identified Afro-Mexicans have fought for recognition, achieving it in 2015 with the preliminary census which listed ‘negro’ (black) as one of the ethnicity options. Afro-Mexicans will have to wait until 2020 before this category is included on a ‘full’ census though. Notably, this move of official recognition on the part of the government leaves Chile as the only Latin American country to not formally recognize its black population."This is a mask of celebration worn in the Afro-Mexican festivals and is a symbol of their fight for recognition.
It is very rare to find these old vintage black Afro-Mexican masks, but even more rare that it was carved for a child.
I acquired this mask more than 20 years ago and it has part of my collection.
I have not cleaned this mask.
The dirt seen in the photos is surface dirt that can be easily cleaned.
I have left it in the original condition as purchased.
Authentic, original and in great condition considering its age.
The condition is as seen the pictures. There is small area in the forehead under the paint that is slightly hollowed from insect damage. If I push on the paint it feels like maybe 1/8 inch of depression in this small area.
I have treated this years ago and the problem was stopped. But if you push on this area be gentle.
I have circled the are part affected in one om photos.
There are NO additional import fees or charges associated with this item shipping into the US.
NO additional cost to buyer.
NOTE : SHIPPING is within the 48 contiguous states ONLY and EXCLUDES Hawaii, Alaska, and US Territories outside this area. Special arrangements can be made in advance to ship to these areas with an additional cost.
Please contact me for pricing.
