
The masquerade dates back to ancient Greek festivals that were thrown to honor Dionysus, the god of wine, sex, fertility, and the theater. The practice of wearing masks and costumes was shared among both the performers and guests of the festival, and was passed from Greece to Rome, and from Rome to Venice.
Masquerading is very popular at festivals, carnivals, and balls. Wearing a mask can be liberating, in that it allows you to reinvent yourself and adopt a new, different, or secret personality.
These beautiful masquerade masks are designed and handmade by traditional artisans in Italy.
The masks are made from high quality paper mache, and decorated with a variety of materials including leather, gold and silver leaf, and Swarovski crystal.
The ancient mask-making art form is alive and well today, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to share it with you.
Click below to watch two full length videos featuring some of these beautiful masks.
