Mayan Masks

16 items

Discover NOVICA's Collection of Mayan Masks. Masks had a central role among the ancient Maya, and were even used to decorate temple walls. They were vibrant, colorful, often animal-themed, and there were special masks for the journey to the afterlife.

Featured Reviews

Wood mask, 'Dancing Rabbit'

Sue

Apr 10, 2022

Dancing Rabbit if better than I imagined

The carving is nice, painting very precise and overall quality and size exceeded expectations. I now own three carvings and love all of them.

Masks

Papier mache mask, 'Kukulkan in Colors'

Carina

Nov 1, 2020

An excellent decorative piece

It is impressive the mask design and more dramatic are the colors. It is a focus of attention. Love it.

Masks

Ceramic mask, 'Maya Crocodile Priest'

John

Apr 10, 2019

Super packing arrived in perfect condition

I was concerned that a clay item would arrive in pieces. The packing was INCREDIBLE. Very happy with what I ordered and the care that was taken to pack and ship it.

Masks

Featured Artist

Angel Ceron Artisan Association Ceramic replicas and figurines

(261)

"Now that I'm retired, I can dedicate my time to my great passion – representing my pre-Hispanic cultural heritage."

UpdateSadly, we lost Angel Ceron to cancer in 2022, at the age of 69. The master artisans with whom he worked closely (Angel names them each below)... read more

More useful facts

Mayan Masks

Once one of the most advanced civilizations in the world, the Mayans created many types of artful masks that were very symbolic in their culture. These Mayan ceremonial masks were an integral part of society, made for many different purposes ranging from funeral ceremonies to protecting noblemen in the afterlife. Mayan god masks and tribal masks were some of the most common in Central America, but another popular symbol was the Jaguar, representative of the four elements - earth, fire, air, and water. The jaguar masks were believed to transform humans into beings with magical powers. NOVICA’s modern artisans of Central America continue the tradition of using materials like pine wood, jade, ceramics and annatto seed to create designs that are highly reminiscent of the original maya face masks. Perusing NOVICA’s abundant selection of decorative masks will give you a glimpse into the fascinating history of Mayan culture.