![\"P1180172\"](\"https:\/\/mexicandancemasks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/P1180172.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis mask has a number of notable features, including the hairline in high relief, the vision slits within the eyebrows, and the elegant mustache.<\/p>\n
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From the side, one sees this long pointed nose. The letter F is painted on his left cheek, for some unknown reason. The mask is 8 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 5 inches deep.<\/p>\n On front and back, this mask has numerous areas of staining that probably resulted from a swarm of insects taking up residence in and around the mask while it was stored in the house rafters.<\/p>\n And here is Malinche. This female mask has a painted on mustache, as did one of the Moj\u00edca masks in a recent Urmston post. She wears this mustache as a mark of disrespect, because Malinche is viewed as having betrayed the Indians of Mexico by aiding Cort\u00e9z. Note how these are a matching pair, with the same hair and the same long pointed noses. But Malinche has other design details that are characteristic of the Moj\u00edca masks, such as her small, carefully detailed teeth. It is a strange and comic thing about this pair that although each has brown hair, their mustaches are painted black. Almost all Moj\u00edca masks have a metal staple at the top instead of a hole through the forehead. I suppose that this reflects the emphasis on carefully stylized hair for these masks.<\/p>\n The side view reveals the long pointed nose, which matches that of Cort\u00e9z. On the other hand the vision slits have been handled in a more conventional fashion.<\/p>\n The mask is 7\u00be inches tall, 8 inches wide, and 4\u00be inches deep.<\/p>\n The contour of the backs of this pair is typical. As will be evident, almost all Moj\u00edca masks have this back design.<\/p>\n What is a Moj\u00edca? Little is available about this name on the internet or in many standard books. In M\u00e1scaras<\/em> (1981), Jaled Muyaes and Estaela Ogaz\u00f3n simply state that Moj\u00edcas dance during Carnaval<\/em> in Tempoal, Veracruz. However, there is more information in a book about the masks in the collection of Rafael Coronel\u2014La Tierra y El Para\u00edso<\/em>\u2014masks that are in the Rafael Coronel Museum in Zacatecas, in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. In that collection there are at least five female Moj\u00edca masks. In the description of Mask #129, on page 161, one learns that Moj\u00edca is short for “Mojiganga,” a word that refers to masquerade, mummery, and clowning. The caption goes on to state that the Moj\u00edca character pretends to engage in amorous and sexual behaviors and carries a doll that represents her infant son. In other words, the Moj\u00edcas are examples of generic Mexican dance characters that are called “Feos” (uglies). Feos demonstrate ugly, inappropriate, and otherwise forbidden behaviors in the context of Mardi Gras, where such depictions are the norm. We saw such behaviors in the video from Guerrero by female characters in the Manueles dance (at 3:40 minutes).<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kcfeVsNiv8U<\/a><\/p>\n As we have seen, the Moj\u00edca female characters can dance opposite a partner with a male mask who may represent Cort\u00e9z. Here is a link to a video of Mojigangas in Tomatl\u00e1n in the state of Veracruz.\u00a0 What one sees are very modern masks of male and female characters; the female masks are nothing like the wonderful older ones from the mid to late twentieth century that we will look at in today’s post.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UPqS_GIfZDc<\/a><\/p>\n I have looked in vain for videos that show older style masks dancing.<\/p>\n Here is another old pair of masks from this tradition. Each has the forehead staple, the carefully carved hair, the vision slits concealed in the eyebrows, and this Cort\u00e9z has the same little teeth that are usual on the female Moj\u00edca masks<\/p>\n The carving of the hair is exquisite from this angle. The ears are equally well carved.<\/p>\n The mask is 7\u00be inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 4\u00bd inches deep.<\/p>\n Note again the typical back design.<\/p>\n The Moj\u00edca of this pair is unusually stately and beautiful. She resembles Lady Mary in the Downtown Abbey\u2122 series.<\/p>\n She too has the forehead staple and the vision slits concealed in the brows. At one time she apparently had red hair.<\/p>\n The mask is 7\u00bd inches tall, 6\u00bd inches wide, and 3\u00bc inches deep.<\/p>\n The back was painted, and one sees evidence of considerable use by the wearing of the painted surface.<\/p>\n I have one more Moj\u00edca pair<\/em> to show you today. I bought this pair from Robin and Barbara Cleaver in 1987 and these two were my introduction to Moj\u00edca masks. They were said to be from El Vada, Veracruz.<\/p>\n The teeth that that are painted yellow are meant to depict gold teeth.<\/p>\n The mask is 7\u00bd inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 4 inches deep.<\/p>\n The back shows staining from moderate use.<\/p>\n The female mask shows evidence of mild infestation with wood boring insects.<\/p>\n A number of these Moj\u00edca masks have turned up noses.<\/p>\n The mask is 7\u00bd inches tall, 7\u00bd inches wide, and 3\u00bd inches deep.<\/p>\n This back also demonstrates significant wear.<\/p>\n Next week I will continue this discussion of Moj\u00edca masks with some single Mojicas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Having introduced you to Moj\u00edca masks in my discussion of the Urmston Collection, I decided to do further posts on those masks, drawing on my collection (none of the masks in today’s post are for sale). I will start with … Read More <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n