Jester Mask Item Number: 2946/94 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Pepino mask. Fabric mask with a half-white, half-blue face. The tip of the nose and curved lips are painted red. There are diamonds and circles painted on the chin, red and blue with yellow outlines on the blue side and white and red with black outlines on the white side. There are white ears stapled to the side of the face. There are three foam triangles at the top of the head in pink, white, and yellow. The bottom hem is unfinished on both sides.
History Of Use
La Paz's pepinos, or buffoons, are derived from the Italian Punchinello of the commedia dell'arte, which was imported into Latin America through the 18th-century Spanish court theatre. Buffoons, dressed as devils, demonic beasts etc., personify ridiculousness and stupidity, and elicit laughter to reaffirm the community's rejection of evil, anti-social behaviour, and "foreignness", while expressing its commonly held ethical aspirations and moral identity.
Item History
- Made in La Paz, Bolivia
- Collected by Anthony A. Shelton during February 2012
- Owned by Anthony A. Shelton before March 12, 2012
- Received from Anthony A. Shelton (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget (Funding source) on March 12, 2012
What
- Name
- Jester Mask
- Identification Number
- 2946/94
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- polyester fibre ?, paint, paper, polyurethane foam and metal
- Overall
- height 33.0 cm, width 29.5 cm, depth 15.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Bolivian
- Field Collector
- Anthony A. Shelton
- Previous Owner
- Anthony A. Shelton
- Received from
- Anthony A. Shelton (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- La Paz, Bolivia
When
- Collection Date
- during February 2012
- Ownership Date
- before March 12, 2012
- Acquisition Date
- on March 12, 2012
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2946/0094