Any ideas about these masks

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Cymbaline, Sep 6, 2024.

  1. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

    20240906_110507.jpg 20240906_110004.jpg 20240906_105950.jpg Hello, I bought these plaster (gypsum) masks at the flee market. Seller said they have the same source. The first one was easy to identify - mongolian tsam mask of Palden Lhamo, but I can't find anything at all about other two. I will be great for any ideas about its origins, country or characters.
    Excuse me for myEnglish :)
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2024
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  2. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Hello! Welcome on board:)
    I'm tagging @Any Jewelry to help you.
    From where are you? French here:lurking:
     
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  3. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

    Hello! Thanks a lot! Russia :bear:
     
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  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It is indeed Pälden Lhamo, but whether Tibetan, Ladakhi, Mongolian or one of the other Lamaist Buddhist regions is impossible to see, because it isn't an original mask. Tsam, or Cham in Tibetan, is the name for masked dances of pre-Buddhist origin.
    Pälden Lhamo is a protective Goddess. Her fiesty nature means she takes her protective role very seriously.:playful:

    I can't help you with the other two masks. Are they all from a series of plaster copies of 'masks of the world'?
     
  5. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

    Thanks a lot! :cat: According the seller's story it is mongolian. The second one looks older. Looks like first and second are the same series. The last one is different, it is solid plaster, not hollow, eyes looks like they were 20240906_144021.jpg painted later on plaster. Pretty weird mask.Looks like it is about 40 years old or so
     
  6. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the forum, Cymbaline :)
     
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  7. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    These masks have been made as souvenirs, based on the characters portrayed in the Mongolian ritual dances called "tsam". The masks actually used in the dances are quite large, and fit over the dancer's head like a helmet, and are made of light weight materials such as papier-mache or leather. There are 108 different characters represented in the dances.

    The second one of your masks may be the one known as "Blue Elder" (this example taken from a deck of cards that portrays many of the characters).

    upload_2024-9-6_9-32-4.png
    https://www.wopc.co.uk/mongolia/mongolian-religious-mask-dancing

    There is also a resemblance to Mangus, the "Gray Old Man" (from a set of commemorative stamps) -

    upload_2024-9-6_9-59-31.png
    https://www.maskmuseum.org/philately/mongolia-1991-45tugrik/

    Here is more information about the tsam dances, and a few other examples of souvenir masks -

    https://mongolianstore.com/tsam-rel...iUNHC7cE3dp9rIRUacX-3C_7MQeKTB-nxUSBrXNG9yMHg

    https://www.voanews.com/a/ancient-art-mongolia/4795749.html

    https://www.darabanth.com/en/online...ra-akaszthato-maszk-serult-11x15-cm~II2427021

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/276376501666?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28
     

    Attached Files:

  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    nice large clear photo's.......... we appreciate that !!!
     
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  9. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

    Thank you! Nice to meet you)
     
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  10. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

    Yes! I think you're right! Thanks a lot for links, really interesting information. I'm sooo grateful to everyone who helped!
    UPD I added two more photos here (couldnt edit original topic, it's asian wooden mask about 50s-60s I bought yesterday). Now I'm trying to google any information about them
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2024
  11. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

  12. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    These are also souvenir miniatures. Similar examples are said to have been made by Tibetan refugees in Nepal -

    upload_2024-9-7_10-40-26.png
    https://mauritius.desertcart.com/products/27495892-remembering-tibetan-refugees-people-of-tibet-mask

    @Cymbaline - If you think you will be posting other items for us, it is always helpful to give us the dimensions of objects (although in this case we can see how big they are in your hand), as well as photos of the back and other angles. Also, it is best to start new posts with new objects, rather than adding them to a previous post.
     
  13. Cymbaline

    Cymbaline New Member

    Yes, of course. Excuse me for only two photos, I bought this thing online and hasn't received it yet, so this photos is the only I have. Of course I'll follow your advice with next masks (if there will be any new unknown masks))
    Thanks a lot for your help! I'm really lucky to find this forum!
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2024
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