Stunning \"REY MORO\" The Moorish King Mexican Dance Folk Art Mask Museum Piece For Sale

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Stunning \"REY MORO\" The Moorish King Mexican Dance Folk Art Mask Museum Piece:
$1500.00

REY MORO: Moorish King Mexican Wooden Dance Mask

This is one of the most extraordinary and unique pieces in our entire collection. No matter how many words I use to describe this remarkable work of art, it won’t be enough to convey its true beauty and exquisite detail — its sheer impact on anyone who crosses its path. I have many works of art in my house which I have collected for decades. REY MORO stands along as the one object no one has simply walked past. It’s size alone demands a second look. And upon taking that second look, you are held captive. It is not simply a keepsake or a piece of art, it is a collectable that should be preserved, protected and cherished as it has been for the 30 years I have owned it — and no doubt by the previous owner, judging by its pristine condition.

“REY MORO” literally “Moorish King,” is a hand-carved, wooden mask, painted in vibrant oil-based paint. Moorish King masks has been used in Mexican dance ceremonies for centuries — dance ceremonies that are still performed to this day. This mask is not simply a decorative wall piece, it is a collectable. You will not find this Moorish King mask — or even one remotely similar — anywhere. It is truly an only child.

The History

Moorish Masks are a product of a ritual carried out centuries ago throughout Latin America. Elaborate dances, known as “Moros y Cristianos” (“Moors and Christians”) re-enacted the conquest of the region by the Spaniards. The Moorish King, depicted as dark and swarthy with menacing eyes, battles the Christian adversary. Mainly performed by indigenous people who participated in the dance and wore the masks, there is some controversy surrounding the actual message of the dance.

According to some historians: “The dance arose from the teachings of missionaries as part of an effort to instill respect for and fear of the Spaniards in the indigenous peoples, and to convince them that the victory of Christianity over other faiths—by violence whenever necessary—was inevitable.”

However, some academics claim that “the ritual re-enacts the conquest of the Spaniards in the region and the defeat of the indigenous populations. However, there is compelling evidence that the ritual--and the masks--actually mock the Spanish. The masks always include the characters of the Moorish King and the Christian (or Spaniard). The “villain” — the Moorish King — was depicted as dark-skinned with a reddish nose (denoting anger) and an elaborate crown, while the Christians were light or pink-skinned. However the most striking features were either multicolored crowns or the turbans. The Moorish King is a central character in the dance who sets his troops against the Spaniards but is ultimately left in defeat. While some may assume that the battles were inspired by religious beliefs, in actuality they were driven by territorial skirmishes.

The Mask Itself:

Often referred to as simply a “Moro”, this Moorish Mask is of an extraordinary craftsmanship; a masterpiece example of the historic dance masks.

The Crown: A three-tiered crown that looks more like an elaborate three-story building with multicolored porticos, the crown is — as it should be — the defining “crown jewel” of the mask. Trimmed in a vibrant blue at the top with a bold red at the bottom, the crown forms to a “point” at the center of the face, drawing the eyes inward — and then down —to the center of the face, where the eyes then command — demand! — attention…

The Eyes: The EYES! Made of glass and startlingly real, the bright whites of the eyes contrast to the dark irises set deep in the eye sockets. Lined with black painted lashes and a “slit” — a literal half-moon carved into the wood beneath the eye — the eyes rest under an impressive and foreboding heavy brow. (As an aside, the heavy brows, elaborate mustache and beard, carved in great detail, are a characteristic often found in the Moorish Mask). And, although the “under eye slits” contribute to the overall striking appearance of the eyes, they were actually constructed so that the wearer of the mask could SEE!

The irises contain an ink-black pupil and the delicate “lines” often seen in the human iris. Again, an attention to detail not often seen in masks of this type.

The Nose: The nose almost rivals the eyes for attention. A deeper and ruddier red than the rest of the face (denoting, as I mentioned earlier, anger) the nose is powerful, large and extremely masculine. The two lines at its side suggest a man who has seen many battles, and will live to see more.

The Lips: Painted in the same vibrant cadmium red used at the base of the crown, the down-turned full lips spread nearly across the span of the face, forming a central focal point between the beard and the mustache. The mouth is expressive, one could easily imagine that mouth turned into the frequent sneer of a warrior king.

The Colors: Although historically the Moorish King Mexican Mask is known for its vibrant colors, this mask’s colors are a “Moorish King on steroids.” They are BOLD, BRIGHT, THICKLY APPLIED and simply captivating. Red, Gold, Dark Green, Bright Blue, Amber, Yellow, Bright White all bursting through a heavy black definition outline are simply remarkable.

The Carving: Look at the photographs. While the thick beard, eyebrows and mustache are features on all Moorish Masks, the beautifully and painstakingly detailed carving of this mask is unparalleled. Run your hand over it and it involuntarily follows the dips and waves of the luxurious contour. It’s frankly hard not to touch it. I discovered this after taking it down after so many years. I had enjoyed viewing for so long, but had never experienced the pleasure of actually regularly touching it. I found myself going back to it as it recently lay on the center of the large oak table in my office. It’s addictive!

The Wood: Although I am not enough of a historian to know what exact wood this mask is made of, it is extremely light. (Which would make sense because if it were to be worn, a mask this size would be unsupportable on a human frame it it were made of a heavy oak!)

Most dance masks were made of many types of wood — quimite, (very light and soft) palo santo, avocado, lele, jonote and, on occasion white cedar. The softness of these woods make carving easier, thus enabling the delicate details. Chisels, mallets and gouges were mostly used to hollow out the back of the masks and form the face. Sometimes molds were made with paper before construction of the wooden mask itself.

The Size:

For a mask, I would describe it as…enormous. It measures 28 INCHES from top to bottom, 11.5 INCHES across and has a depth of 8.5 INCHES. Surprisingly, given these measurements, it weighs only a mere 4.6 POUNDS! (Which will make shipping an item of this size MUCH less daunting!)

The Tag:

I purchased this piece at the famous Folk Art International shop in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco in the early 1990s. Folk Art International is - the - leading and most well respected genuine folk art acquisitions organization in the world. Folk Art International still exists today - and is known for their showcasing of museum quality pieces from around the globe. I lucked out - as these days, Folk Art International operates as a true museum. Meaning, you cannot purchase the pieces on display - but rather can only purchase small replicas and branded gear from their souvenir shop. Truth be told? I understand this transition. So exquisite are these masterpieces of folk art, that selling to a private collector (such as myself) robs the masses from ever having the chance to view such extraordinary examples of the best of art from cultures and peoples you’ve likely never heard of. In addition to the “Moorish King” you see here, I actually bought a six-feet long carved wooden full-body Mexican “Merman Mask” — the kind worn on the shoulders during a ceremonial dance. It is extraordinary. It’s “Poseidon with Mermaid body.” (Sorry, that one’s not for sale — It hangs still above my fireplace!) Though not for sale, I’ve included a photo above - as if this mask speaks to you, well, you will most certainly appreciate the stunning beauty of the “Merman Mask.” Who am I to keep such beauty to myself?

I bought the Moorish King and it’s mate (which too appears on my active listings page) and several pieces of handmade silver jewelry which I cherish to this day. The COA appears as a hand-written tag attached to the back of the mask - and reads as follows:

Cover: Folk Art International

Copy:

Moors and Christians Dance

The most striking feature in these types of masks is not the fierce expression which represents the evil nature of the infidels, but the crown or turban in contrasting colors, which looks very impressive on the head of the dancer.

In spite of the preeminence of Christian characters and European themes in the dances, when they were actually put into practice the the native peoples, there developed a process of substitution which produced Mexican characters, like Xocoyotito, the son of Pilate.

In many masks of the Moors and Christians, the features are confusing. Only by details like turbans or crowns, the color of the skin (dark for the Moors and pink for the Christians), can one determine the group to which the mask belongs.

This mask beautifully painted represents the King of the Moors, a villain on the the dance, in spite of its looking like a Christian prophet.

P3

20120

- The tag still carries the original barcode. We\'re talking 30 years since I picked this piece up - my recommendation? Perhaps remove the COA, and place it into a protective covering to help preserve its longevity. The COA is this piece\'s story... without it? Well... you lose an element of this piece\'s magic...

In conclusion, while I cannot attest to the age of this mask (other than to say I wasn’t the first owner and I’ve owned it for 30 years) or to its creator (I would hug him if I met him) I can tell you that I am very sorry to part with it. But there comes a time when “downsizing” your life includes parting with material things you’ve loved for many years — they become like old friends who need to be set free to make new friends.

Upon considering that the room in which this mask was hanging is so little trafficked, I decided it’s time to let it shine in another home where it will get the attention it deserves. It is, quite simply, exquisite.

NOTE: This was quite the expensive acquisition - and keep in mind we are talking about a purchase made about 30 years ago… that price you see on the COA? Adjust for inflation… this is a VERY valuable piece - especially in 2022… up for grabs (again, most masks as such are these days housed in a Museum) at a - very - fair price… my business partner disagrees with my price point VEHEMENTLY. All I’ve heard since we decided to list is “We paid more back THEN! And this is something you CANNOT FIND!” - true - but, in my old age - I take more into account than money… put simply, it is more important to me that this piece finds the - right - person.. the -right - new home, than making a good profit on what was a fabulous (lucky) investment.

~If you have any further questions, or would like to see any additional photos, please do not hesitate to reach out in the form of an email. I will get back to you promptly. Will ship overseas, but not responsible for any customs fees that might be incurred.

PS: WE ARE ONLY CHARGING FOR LARGE FR USPS. $20. This mask will obviously cost more to ship (especially considering we would be shipping via a means to make sure it arrives in the condition it is sent out in. We will be covering cost of shipping beyond the $20 fee.

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