The following item belongs to the range of “Antique and Rare Items of the Casa de Artes’ Treasures Series”. This item can only be purchased online using PAYPAL or a US Dollar Check sent to our P.O. Box address in Florida, USA. For buying instructions please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ----  Antique Monkey mask carved in the usual way of Colonial Style Masks. The extremely well carved curly golden and black painted hair gives this fragile mask a superb and lovely look. The face has a well achieved “skin” colour and a prominent snout decorated with fine black and red dots that highlight the cheeks, eyes and forehead. The piece was very well decorated, as usual in those days, with golden paint in eyebrows and nose. Three red dots in cheeks and forehead gave the piece a more vivid look but are now almost invisible. The tiny nose and mouth carvings were able to survive the damage in cheeks; many layers of paint mark the depth of the skin. The left eye has a small fissure that was glued to add stability to the already delicate mask. The ears and the mask’s edge have suffered from the many “Bailes Tradicionales” where the piece was used. Monkeys are present in almost every Ceremonial Dance; they act as buffoons, they give the relief to the audience during the long lasting ceremonies; and they have the important roll of collecting food, liquor or money for the Religious Brotherhood that sponsors the event. The age of the mask can be determined by the many different layers of paint and the incredible backside patina that tells the many adventures that the mask has overcome.