The party has gone on for nearly 1,000 years.
For most of that time, Venetians have worn masks like these. Mysterious. Seductive. Liberating.
When people put on masks like these, they give each other permission to do things that would otherwise be forbidden. Which is, of course, the point.
Carnival leads directly into the 40 repentant days of Lent, and a person needs something to repent for.
Venetian Carnival Masks, worn by lusty Lord Byron and banned by suspicious Napoleon. Made in Venice of traditional molded papier-mâché and wood composite, decorated by hand; accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity.
Tie on with attached ribbons to join the party or just hang them on a wall; very evocative.
Colombina Feathered Mask (No. 2398), gold eye-mask with crown of painted feathers, forehead decorated with brilliant sapphire Austrian crystal. You may recall this from the solemn orgy ritual in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Dimensions: 13" high x 15" wide.
Volto Full-Face Mask (No. 2404), made using special crackling technique for the look of antique porcelain, decorated with macramé, gold leaf, and Austrian crystals. (This is the one Tom Cruise wore.) Dimensions: 9" high x 6" wide.
