Mexican carving & or mask ?

I posted about this piece originally about 5 years and am interested if this size and shape was ever seen as a mask in the culture - it's 10 x 33 inches, hollowed out like a mask and does have eye cutouts just above the Diablo center figures eyes, below eyebrows . . . I had missed this initially. Consensus was it's a totem due to size, and something seen in the tourist market. It is well done IMO with a striking appearance in person.

 

.and I can't find an eagle holding a sheep ........

but best I can tell thee 3 images have to be worn one at a time....

 

Earlier post

http://www.antiquers.com/threads/mask.26667/#post-355842

 

Most of the Mexican masks intended for wearing during a parade would be a single image of a person or animal; I'd think this was intended as a wall-hanging, representing several such masks, combined.
I'd not call it a totem pole though.

 

Yes, so basically figures worn singularly, it's a mask, and not a mask when there's a collective of three figures on a large piece like this, despite eye cut outs. In the original post someone mentioned it being a bat on top.... also mentioned was, the figures all have a negative theme in their culture - bat (blood sucker), the devil and the Christian Spaniard.

 

if the carver wanted it to look like a bat......he did so on the middle face with plenty of realism....
wouldn't u agree ?

Mexican's luv their eagles and condors....and this carver did some nice work !

 

sorry bout my pics...they wouldn't take.....

 

masks can have multiple creatures....but a singular face.....with some exceptions.....but even with eyeholes as required....you don;t have a mask here...

 

two faced mask

 

Nice mask with wonderful patina . . .

 

ya, it looked like a good example of an older work..