Used Ceremonial Mask 024

Snake Art Mask

Carved from balsa wood, this detailed snake art mask has a powerful presence for any space it adorns and is simply sublime being worn by the diablo dancer in the Brunka tribe’s venerable Danza de los Diablitos (valuable context image accompanies this mask). The typical diablo design is taken further here with the inclusion of local, usually predatory, animals as mask themes (as opposed to the classic demon visage). Tebék (snake in the Brunka language) is a potent personage in many of this native group’s myth and legend. The mask was worn in the Danza de los Diablitos of 2012-2013 in the village of Boruca.

• Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
• Size: 10 3/4″ x 17 1/2” (27.5 x 44.5 cm)
• Artist: E. Gómez.