I wasn't sure if we would buy another mask today, as our mask display space at home is getting pretty crowded. But we fell in love with an antique looking diablo (devil). It turns out that this is, specifically, Lucifer. Effigies of him are often displayed on altars alongside Maximon / San Simon. According to Jim Pieper in Guatemala's Folk Saints, "Lucifer is not usually prayed to for action but for inaction. Prayers and offerings are made so that one will be left alone and not tempted, acted against, or pursued by the negative forces of the lower spiritual world." (page 197).

Lucifer masks are used in various morality dance plays. There were several Lucifer masks of different styles, but the one that we purchased has horns and pointy teeth which reminded me of a piranha. It is roughly the same size and overall shape as a wooden Dogon mask we bought in Mali, so we thought it would make a nice addition to our collection.

Author

Craig and Steph

Created on

Thursday 27 July 2017

Posted on

Monday 16 April 2018

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• 2017 Guatemala / Ecuador

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