Jason Clarke Antiques has dated this piece to the 1880s.
In itself, it is a beautiful piece of carving with stylised hair and superbly created features, it conjures a somewhat Monty Pythonesque look.
Fashioned presumably as a human circus strongman (which may give some indication as to the purpose of the act for which it was created), the mask has two human eye holes and a further set of eye holes just underneath the eyebrows to allow for the monkey to be able to see through the mask and has a hole either side and to the top to allow for fixing to the monkey’s face.
The mask is complete with its original paint scheme with flesh-tones for the skin and lips, and gold for the teeth, moustache, eyelashes, eyebrows and hair.
This is an extremely rare museum quality piece and perhaps unique relic from the heyday of the Victorian circus where animals were used in a somewhat less caring manner but it equally conjures a real sense of the period through its stylised appearance.
Jason Clarke Antiques has dated this piece to the 1880s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Jason Clarke Antiques Profile Page
Rare Victorian Painted Performing Monkey Circus Mask
