I will be out of town from August 14th to 29th, and so will not be shipping orders or open for visitors at the gallery. The Indigo Arts website will be active as always. I will respond to emails as soon as possible. I will be able to ship orders after August 29th, 2025.

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Mascaras II*: Dance Masks from Mexico and Guatemala

June 29, 2025

Drawing on roots in both pre-Columbian Meso-America and Europe, las mascaras have long been used in the celebration of the popular holidays of Carnival, Christmas and the Dias de los Muertos (Days of the Dead), as well as such specific festival dances as the Dance of the Tigres, the Dance of the Conquest, the Dance of the Tejorones, the Dance of the Mexicanos (in Guatemala) and the Dance of the Moors and the Christians.Indigo Arts' first show of Mexican masks was in 1987. In addition to Indigo Arts own collection, it has been a privilege to show works from many other distinguished collections. The current selection includes masks from the collection of the late Canadian painter Gordon Rayner and his wife, Kate Regan Rayner, as well as the collection of the legendary Mexican collectors Jaled Muyaes and Estela Ogazon.

The Mexican, whether young or old, criollo or mestizo, general or laborer or lawyer, seems to me to be a person who shuts himself away to protect himself: his face is a mask and so is his smile. In his harsh solitude, which is both barbed and courteous, everything serves him as a defense: silence and words, politeness and disdain, irony and resignation.... He builds a wall of indifference and remoteness between reality and himself, a wall that is no less impenetrable for being invisible. The Mexican is always remote, from the world and from other people. And also from himself.
Octavio Paz in The Labyrinth of Solitude, 1961

*The First Mascaras exhibit at Indigo Arts was in 2010.

Azteca Dance of the Conquest Mask
SKU: MXM-170-12

Azteca Dance of the Conquest Mask ( Mask with eagle nose/projection, and long horsehair beard) Puebla or Veracruz, Mexico. 20th century. Oil paint on carved wood with horse hair (10.5” h. x 7” w. x 10.75” d., 26” h. w/ beard) Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

 

$1800

Diablo Mask with Downward Diving Man
SKU: MXM-170-7

Diablo mask. Veracruz, Mexico. Mid-20th century. Acrylic paint on carved wood (9.5” h. x 12.75” w. x 5.75” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$1500

Old Diablo Mask attributed to Victoriano Salgado of Michoacan
SKU: MXM-164

Unsigned but attributed to Victoriano Salgado Morales (1920 - 2012) Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico, c.1950 - 1970.
Maque lacquer on wood, with animal teeth. (14" H x 9" W x 6" D.)
Provenance: private New York collection.

A prolific designer and maker of wooden, maque, decorative masks used by dancers in Purépecha fiestas, one of Grand Masters of Mexican Folk art and one of last skilled masters of this unique art form. Mr. Salgado learned this skill from several mask makers of the Magdalena neighborhood where he grew up. His first mask dates back to 1950 and it was a "Negrito" folk dance mask.
Victoriano's masks are not painted, the process used for color is a highly superior technique called "maque", which is a pre-hispanic process involving numerous applications of natural earth and insect pigments and oils applied with the palm of the hand that hardens into a brilliant, lustrous surface. Mr. Salgado created over 60 different masks, the most famous: dance of the Señor Naranjo, and the dance of the Tataqueri, Corcovi, Negritos and Viejitos.
He passed away on September 2012 two weeks before receiving the Erendira Award, the highest prize given by the Michoacan State Government.

$1500

Moro de Carnaval Mask - Veracruz
SKU: MXM-127

Moro de Carnaval mask - Plan de Palmas, Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico, early 20th century.
Carved wood w/ oil and mineral-based paints.
6" w. x 7 1/2” h. x 4” d.
Ex. Brand collection.

$1250

Green Snake Mask attributed to Victoriano Salgado of Michoacan
SKU: MXM-156

Unsigned but attributed to Victoriano Salgado Morales (1920 - 2012) Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico, c.1970 - 1980 Maque lacquer on wood. (11.5" H x 9" W x 6.5" D.) Provenance: estate of artist William Scharf, NYC. A prolific designer and maker of wooden, maque, decorative masks used by dancers in Purépecha fiestas, one of Grand Masters of Mexican Folk art and one of last skilled masters of this unique art form, Mr. Salgado learned this skill from several mask makers of the Magdalena neighborhood where he grew up. His first mask dates back to 1950 and it was a "Negrito" folk dance mask. Victoriano's masks are not painted, the process used for color is a highly superior technique called "maque", which is a pre-hispanic process involving numerous applications of natural earth and insect pigments and oils applied with the palm of the hand that hardens into a brilliant, lustrous surface. Mr. Salgado created over 60 different masks, the most famous: dance of the Señor Naranjo, and the dance of the Tataqueri, Corcovi, Negritos and Viejitos. He passed away on September 2012 two weeks before receiving the Erendira Award, The highest prize given by the Michoacan State Government.

$1250

Huasteca/Otomi Chivo Mask
SKU: MXM-170-11

Huasteca/Otomi Chivo (goat) mask with ribboned headdress for Carnival. Hidalgo, Mexico. Mid-20th century. Oil paint on carved wood with horse hair, yarn, ribbon, wire, brass bells, steel nails (22 1/2” h. x 11” w. x 6” d., 33” w/ beard).
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$1200

"Guerrero" Ball-player Mask attributed to Victoriano Salgado of Michoacan
SKU: MXM-137

Unsigned but attributed to Victoriano Salgado Morales (1920 - 2012)
Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico,
c.1970 - 1980
Maque lacquer on wood.
(9" h. x 7” w. x 5” d.)

A prolific designer and maker of wooden, maque, decorative masks used by dancers in Purépecha fiestas, one of Grand Masters of Mexican Folk art and one of last skilled masters of this unique art form.  Mr. Salgado learned this skill from several mask makers of the Magdalena neighborhood where he grew up. His first mask dates back to 1950 and it was a "Negrito" folk dance mask.

Victoriano's masks are not painted, the process used for color is a highly superior technique called "maque", which is a pre-hispanic process involving numerous applications of natural earth and insect pigments and oils applied with the palm of the hand that hardens into a brilliant, lustrous surface. 

Mr. Salgado created over 60 different masks, the most famous: dance of the Señor Naranjo, and the dance of the Tataqueri, Corcovi, Negritos and Viejitos.

He passed away on September 2012 two weeks before receiving the Erendira Award, The highest prize given by the Michoacan State Government.

$1100

Tecuan Mask, Dance of Tigres
SKU: MXM-170-34

Dance of Tigres. Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico. Mid-20th century.
Painted leather with boar bristles, glass mirrors, cotton (14.75” h. x 14.5” w. x 14.5” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased in Mexico c. 1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$950

Tapir Mask
SKU: MXM-170-23

Animal (tapir or wild boar) mask. State undetermined, Mexico. Mid-20th century. wood, oil paint, glass marbles (16” h. x 7” w. x 6” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$950

Venado (deer) Mask
SKU: MXM-170-1

Venado (deer) mask for Carnaval. Hidalgo, Mexico. Mid-20th century. Oil paint on carved wood with animal horn (21” h. x 25.5” w. x 8.5” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$950

Tecuan Mask, Dance of Tigres
SKU: MXM-170-35

Dance of Tigres. Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico. Mid-20th century.
Painted leather with boar bristles, glass mirrors, cotton (14.5” h. x 16.75” w. x 12” d. )
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased in Mexico c. 1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$950

Spotted Cat Mask
SKU: MXM-170-28

Spotted Animal (cat or hyena) mask.
State undetermined, Mexico. Mid-20th century.
wood, oil paint, (13” h. x 7.75” w. x 6.5” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$850

Moro Mask
SKU: MXM-170-18

Puebla (?), Mexico, mid-20th century wood, oil paint (8.25” h. x 6.5” w. x 4.75” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$850

Espanol Mask (#gtm011)
SKU: GTM-011

Guatemala, mid-20th cent.
Wood painted with oil paints
(6 1/2" w. x 5" d. x 9" h.)

$650

Tejorone Mask with Whiskers
SKU: MXM-170-36

Dance of the Tejorones. Coastal Oaxaca, probably Pinotepa area, Mexico, 20th century.
wood, oil paint, animal (probably rabbit) fur (7.75” h. x 5.2” w. x 4” d.)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$650

Mayo Pascola Mask from Sonora
SKU: MXM-170-29

Bonifacio Bamea (per label on back), Mayo people, Sonora, Mexico (location on label appears to read "El Guaporin"). Mid-20th century.
wood, oil paint, horse hair, glass crystals (7.5” h. x 5.5” w. x 4” d., 14” h. incl. beard)
Provenance: from the Katharyn and Gordon Rayner Collection of Mexican Masks, Canada. Purchased from the collection of Jaled Muyaes, Mexico City, c.1990.
In the Fall of 2023 this mask was included in an exhibition at the Mexican embassy in Otttawa, Canada.

$850

Product Status: 
Sold