Jolly (Jester with Musical Notes, Golden Bells & Inlay of Semi-Precious Stones)
$340.00
The Jolly, or Jester, is one of the classic archetypes of the Commedia dell'Arte. From Italy, the archetype spread to other parts of Europe. (In England, for example, the Jester influenced Shakespeare's creation of such characters as Feste in Twelth Night and the Fool in King Lear.)
The Jester may be seen as an embodiment of the Christian ideal of a character neither corrupted by the world nor impressed by worldly status of authority, a persona that is also echoed in the Tarot card the Fool, or in modern times by Jack Kerouac's "crazy dumbsaint of the mind."
This piece, from the Balocoloc workshop in Venice, is crafted from paper maché and gold leaf. The paper maché has been treated with a special aging technique to make its surface look like aged porecelain. The traditional jester's cap is crafted from music paper inset with semi-precious stones and decorated with gold filagree and bells. The mask can either be worn or displayed.
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Female Jolly With Music Notes
$160.00
Female jester -- note the stylizied Cupid's bow mouth.Made from paper maché with blue tapestry, music paper, gold leaf design work and bells. From the Balocoloc workshop. Suitable for wearing or display.
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Medico Della Peste (The Plague Doctor)
The Medico Della Peste is one of the most famous of the traditional Venetian masks although the costume itself was originated by a famous French plague doctor named Charles de Lorme. It was hoped the phallic beak -- stuffed with disinfectant substances -- would protect its wearer from infection. The doctors wore long black coats so their clothes wouldn’t become contaminated by their patients’ disease and they used the stick to enable them to lift bed covers and look at their patients — from a safe distance!
The popularity of the Medico della Peste with carnivale celebrants reminds us that in the midst of life, there is always the spectre of death.
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White Medico della Peste
$140.00
This hand-made paper maché piece comes from Il Salotto delle Maschere in Venice, and is the most historically accurate of the Medico masks Slow Burn offers for sale. Twenty-two centimeters tall, fourteen centimeters wide. Black satin ribbons are attached, making the piece suitable for both wearing and display.
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Gold Medico della Peste
$140.00
This hand-made paper maché mask, completely covered in thinly hammered gold leaf, comes from the Ca' del Sol workshop in Venice. The mask can be worn or displayed.
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Medico Della Peste with Music Notes
$180.00
This unusual piece -- paper maché covered with music paper and adorned with copper filagree -- reminds us that Death likes to whistle. From the Laboratorio Casanova in Venice.
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Medico Della Peste with Medieval Prayer
$230.00
This remarkable version of one of the most famous of all Venetian masks is adorned with gold leaf and filagree, artwork displaying the doctor himself and a medieval prayer.
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Volo della Colombina (Flight of the Dove)
$320.00
During Carnivale, at midday on the Sunday preceding Shrove Thursday, a celebration called Volo della Colombina (Flight of the Dove) takes place: a paper maché dove "flies" along a cable that stretches from St. Mark's campanile to the plaza below, releasing clouds of confetti upon the delighted crowd.
This celebration is a reenactment of an act of daredevilry that took place at the height of the Venetian Republic: a young Turkish acrobat -- his pockets filled with flowers and poems for the Doge -- climbed a rope to the top of the bell tower and then proceeded to descend upside down along the Loggia Foscara of the Palazzo Ducale, a feat that became known as Volo dell'Angelo (Flight of the Angel.) After the reenactment became part of the Carnivale celebration, the Venetians replaced the human acrobat with a sympolic dove. Since 2002, however, the dove has once again become a human performer.
This extraordinary piece -- a woman wearing a headdress in the shape of a dove -- comes from the Balocoloc workshop in Venice. It is made from paper maché treated to suggest antiquity and decorated with gold foil and filagree, and Swarovski crystals.
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Bauta
$100.00
"Bauta" is the name given to the square masks most commonly worn by Venetian citizens (men & women alike) to disguise their identities. The characteristically v-shaped and tilted chin was designed to enable the wearer to eat and drink without having to remove the mask.
This piece, from the Balocoloc workshop in Venice, is half white and half magenta, and embellished with gold brocade and musical notes. It may be worn or displayed.
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Bauta Con Mano (Bauta with Hand)
$120.00
In this variant on the classic bauta, the wearer seeks to camaflage his true identity further by holding his left hand up to right side of his face. Look closely at the profile shot: the wedding ring on the hand makes this a most unusual piece.
This mask comes from the Balocoloc workshop. It is hand made from paper maché and painted using a special technique to give its surface the patina of antique porcelain. It's embellished with gold brocade, gold foil and sequins. The mask is suitable for wearing or display.
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Casanova
$140.00
Casanova was an 18th century Venetian writer, best known for an autobiography in which he documents his romantic conquests in extensive, lucubrious detail. This being Venice, of course he wore a mask to these assignations! Did he remove the mask with the rest of his clothing? Alas, this is one of those interesting questions for which history provides no reliable answer.
This mask comes the Maschere Benor workshop in Venice. It is a variation on the classic bauta. Paper maché painted to look like black, brown and gold leather. Suitable for wearing or display.
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The Doge
$180.00
For a thousand years the titular head of the Venetian Republic was the Doge, elected by members of La Serenissima's aristocracy to a lifetime term. After the 13th century or so the Doge had diminishing powers as head of government but increasing pomp and glory as head of state. Among the marks of office was a characteristic crown made of richly bejeweled brocade mounted over a linen skullcap. This mask is a representation of the Doge wearing his crown.
The mask is an example of the volto (Italian for face), a traditional full-faced mask with a round shape. The pale lips and slightly Oriental features are characteristic of male voltos. The mask comes from the Balocoloc workshop in Venice. It's paper maché treated to resemble aged porcelain, and decorated with gold leaf and gold furbelows.
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Volto Donna Arlecchino (Female Full Face With Butterfly Decorations)
$60.00
The butterly has its own history of camaflage and revelation, and as such was a popular decorative motif on Carnivale masks. This mask displays a springtime palette of pinks and golds along with a highly kissable mouth. Note the voluptuous red lips -- they signal the mask wearer's libidinous intent.
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Foglia Volto Intero (Leaf Mask - Full Face)
$150.00
Fantasy motifs like butterflies, animals and leaves were common themes in Venetian masks.
This full-faced, paper maché mask was made with a special aging technique to make its surface look like aged bronze. Highlights are of gold leaf. Two black ribbons are attached. The mask can be worn or hung on a wall.
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Foglia Mezzo Volto (Leaf Half Mask)
$75.00
Fantasy motifs like butterflies, animals and leaves were common themes in Venetian masks. This paper maché mask mezzo (partial) mask leaves the lips free for kissing. The leaf pattern of the shape is repeated in gold leaf curlicues on the mask's surface from which gold bells hang. Two black ribbons are attached. The mask can be worn or hung on a wall.
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Harlequin 1
$70.00
Arlecchino (or Harlequin) is a Commedia dell'Arte character: an inept, clownish servant in a brightly colored, diamond patterned costume. The diamond pattern was named for him when it went on to become a popular decorative motif.
This mask was made by the Boldrin brothers of the workshop La Bottega dei Mascareri. Their work was showcased in Stanley Kubrick's film, Eyes Wide Shut. The mask is hand-painted paper maché, suitable for wearing or display.
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Harlequin 2
$70.00
Another mask from the the Boldrin brothers of the workshop La Bottega dei Mascareri. While the decorative style is almost identical to the harlequin mask above, the face itself is different. That's because the artisans at La Bottega dei Mascareri cast new clay molds more often than other Venetian mask workshops.
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Copper Volto
$80.00
This decidedly untraditional volto from La Bottega dei Mascareri in Venice is the face of a young boy covered in thinly hammered copper leaf. Suitable for wearing or display.
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Volto
$80.00
This unusual mask is from Benor Maschere in Venice. The eyebrows, pale lips and vaguely Oriental cast to the features suggest that this is a male volto. Hand-painted paper maché.
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Columbine
Columbina was an early Commedia dell'arte actress whose vanity made her reluctant to camaflage her beauty behind a mask. The half-mask or loup was designed to accomodate her.
These masks come from a variety of different workshops in Venice. They are hand made of paper maché and individually decorated. They are suitable for both wearing and display.
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Columbine (1)
$55.00
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Columbine (2)
$55.00
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Columbine (3)
$55.00
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Columbine (4)
$55.00
This unusual piece is an homage to the famous Venetian lace.
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Columbine (5)
$55.00
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Columbine (6)
$55.00
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