Mask Collection (#93)

BASEBALL: CATCHER SIGNALS. Diagram of signals used by New York Giants catcher Earl Smith. Illustration, 1920

FASHION: FUR COAT, 1643. A woman wearing a mask and fur coat before Cheapside, London, England. Caption reads: The cold, not cruelty makes her weare / In winter

MEDIEVAL PUNISHMENT. Helmet with a jesters cap and bells, used as a means of degredation. Line engraving

Virulhok Giant Yaksha Demon Temple Guardian statue at Wat Phra Kaew Royal Palace complex in Bangkok
Virulhok (Wirunhok) Giant Yaksha Demon Temple Guardian statue at the Wat Phra Kaew Temple complex of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Royal Palace complex in Bangkok, Thailand

Traditional dancers at the Paro festival, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Traditional dancer at the Paro festival, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Pierrot and Harlequin, by Philippe Mercier (1689-1760). A scene from the Commedia dell Arte, in which Pierrot and Harlequin protect the honour of the doctors daughter

Hopi dancers, wearing Hemis Kachina masks and sprigs of evergreen, lined up at a pueblo in Arizona during the Niman
HOPI DANCERS, c1913. Hopi dancers, wearing Hemis Kachina masks and sprigs of evergreen, lined up at a pueblo in Arizona during the Niman Kachina or going home ceremony in the month of July

Aix galericulata, Mandarin duck and other birds
Large Series plate 35, a watercolour from the John Reeves Collection of Zoological Drawings from Canton, China

Man wearing a jester mask and costume at the Venice Carnival
Carnival goers take to the streets dressed in their finest costumes and masks to parade around St. Marks Square, celebrating the Venice Carnival in Italy. The theme for 2013 is Live in Colour

Person wearing a demon mask and costume at the Venice Carnival
Carnival goers take to the streets dressed in their finest costumes and masks to parade around St. Marks Square at night, celebrating the Venice Carnival in Italy. The theme for 2013 is Live in Colour

Gold mask. Pre-Columbian art. Jewelry. COLOMBIA. Bogotᮠ Gold Museum. Proc: COLOMBIA. Inza. Archaeological park of Tierradentro. Alto de San Andr鳮

Gas respirator equipment instruction, WW2
Auxiliary Fire Service members undergoing Gas Respirator equipment instruction during the Second World War

Auxiliary Fire Service gas mask training, WW2
Women of the Auxiliary Fire Service undergoing gas mask training during the Second World War

Uranium mining. Miner extracting uranium ore from an underground mine. This is the Gluboky uranium mine, in the Chita region of Russia

AZTEC MASK: XIPE TOTEC. Stone mask of Xipe Totec, god of life-death-rebirth, agriculture, the west, disease, spring, goldsmiths and the seasons. Aztec period, Mexico

YEIBICHAI CEREMONY, c1905. Navajo man impersonating a god, or Yeibichai, placing feather sticks, called kedan, around a pit with hot embers for men to sweat during the Yeibichi ceremony

female initiation mask, Sierra Leone, 1800-1900
Mende Mask, carved wood; made to fit over the head, helmet-wise; the lower rim, in front, is pierced to hold a fringe of grass or hair

Train-robbers, 1800s
Gunmen robbing a railroad train, late 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Zuni Pueblo shalako
Shalako leading a ceremony at night, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Venice, Veneto, Italy; A mask in costume on the Bacino di San Marco with the cupola of Santa Maria della Salute in the background

A young Egyptian woman in traditional headdress
A striking young Egyptian woman in traditional headdress

Soldier wearing gas mask, 1918
British soldier wearing a gas mask and helmet on the Western Front in France during World War I in 1918

Devil mask, the Devil dance (La Diablada), carnival, Oruro, Bolivia, South America

Portrait of a Tobas warrior during carnival called The Devil Dance (La Diablada), Oruro, Bolivia, South America

Comedy and Tragedy Masks

Arts Collage

Comedy and Tragedy Theatre Masks

Roman theatrical masks. The masks were quite large and covered the actors entire head, they were also colour coded, brown for men and white for women

Defeated gladiator appeals to crowd for mercy. After a mid-19th century illustration by an unidentified artist; Illustration

Caricature of the farthingale and the mask, 1610. From Modes and Manners, published 1925

The block, axe and executioners mask. From London Pictures, published 1890

Stereoview world war one, The Great War, Realistic Travels military photographs circa 1918. Gunners suspicious of an approaching Taube don masks as protection against german gas shells

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"Masks: Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of History and Culture" From the golden mask of Tutankhamun displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt to the haunting plague doctor masks depicted in 17th-century artwork, masks have played a significant role throughout history. In a vibrant 19th-century painting, Pulcinella is seen donning a mask while offering pasta to a little Pulcinella, showcasing how masks were not only used for disguise but also as symbols of tradition and entertainment. During times of war and conflict, masks took on new meanings. A recruitment poster for the Corps of Military Police reminds us of their importance in protecting soldiers' identities. Meanwhile, Jackie Robinson's daring steal home under catcher Andy Seminick's tag showcases how even sports embraced masks as tools for strategy and triumph. The dark days of World War II saw women wearing gas masks on the home front as protection against chemical attacks. These images serve as powerful reminders of resilience during challenging times. Masks also hold cultural significance beyond warfare. At Venice Carnival, two ladies adorned with blue and gold masks celebrate this UNESCO World Heritage Site's rich heritage and traditions. Even great composers like Ludwig van Beethoven found inspiration from life or death masks when studying his own features or those who came before him. The intricate details captured by these molds provide insight into their lives and legacies. Whether they are made from gold or worn out of necessity during wartime, whether they conceal our faces or reveal our true selves through artistry - these various types of masks remind us that behind every face lies a story waiting to be told, and are windows into different eras, cultures, emotions – connecting us all through time and space.