Vintage Mexican Guerrero Jaguar Tigre Dance Mask Wood Folk Art Olinala 13” For Sale
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Vintage Mexican Guerrero Jaguar Tigre Dance Mask Wood Folk Art Olinala 13”: $199.00
Striking vintage hand-carved Mexican jaguar or “Tigre/Tecuani” mask, attributed to the traditional mask-making region of Guerrero, Mexico, most likely Olinalá or the surrounding area.This style of mask is associated with the Danza de los Tlacololeros / Danza de los Tecuanes, a traditional Guerrero folk dance in which the jaguar is a central character. Masks from this tradition are known for their dramatic feline faces, large open jaws, prominent fangs, vivid painted decoration and deeply hollowed wood construction.This example is especially expressive, with a golden-yellow painted and lacquered surface decorated with black concentric spots and scrolling designs, red and blue circular accents, glass-like eyes, a broad raised muzzle and a dramatic open mouth filled with individually formed teeth and fangs.The mask is carved from a substantial piece of wood and deeply hollowed on the reverse. Based on its construction, surface, decoration and comparison with documented Guerrero examples, it is believed to date to approximately the mid-to-late 20th century, likely around the 1960s–1980s. Exact age, maker and village of origin are not documented.Approximately 13” tall × 10” wide × 7” deep.This is a genuine hand-crafted folk art object rather than a molded decorative reproduction. Whether this particular example was actually worn in a dance cannot be confirmed without provenance, so it is being described as a traditional dance-mask type rather than as a documented ceremonial-used piece.There is significant but attractive age-related wear throughout, including paint loss, scratches, chips, cracks/splits and wear around the teeth and rear edges. Please inspect all photos carefully.Seller note: I am not an expert in Mexican ethnographic or ceremonial art. Identification, regional attribution and approximate age are based on available research and comparison with documented examples. Exact maker, age, materials of the applied teeth/fangs, ceremonial history and provenance cannot be guaranteed.
