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What African Masks Were Made For Before They Became Wall Decor
What African Masks Were Made For Before They Became Wall Decor
Masks were made to be worn in performance, not hung on a wall. The traditions are specific and worth naming properly. Read more...
How to Tell a Decorative Mask From a Ceremonial One
How to Tell a Decorative Mask From a Ceremonial One
A genuine buying skill, and an ethical one. What to look at and what to ask before you spend. Read more...
Carved Masks in a Modern Interior, Without the Theme
Carved Masks in a Modern Interior, Without the Theme
One carved object in a plain room is striking. Four is a theme, and a theme is hard to live with. Read more...
One Mask or Several, and Why More Is Usually Worse
One Mask or Several, and Why More Is Usually Worse
One does more than three, and there is a specific perceptual reason why. Read more...
Masks in a Hallway, and Why They Work There
Masks in a Hallway, and Why They Work There
The best room in a British house for a carved mask, for reasons that are mostly about how you move through it. Read more...
What Height to Hang a Mask, and Why It Matters
What Height to Hang a Mask, and Why It Matters
Almost every mask in Britain is hung too high, and there is a specific reason it looks wrong. Read more...
How to Light a Carved Mask So You Can Actually See It
How to Light a Carved Mask So You Can Actually See It
The difference between a mask you notice and one you walk past is lighting rather than the mask. Here is how to get it right. Read more...
Tribal Masks UK, a Complete Buying Guide
Tribal Masks UK, a Complete Buying Guide
How to judge a carved tribal mask before you buy, what separates hand work from machine work, and an honest account of where ours come from. Read more...
Timorese Carving, and What Makes It Distinct
Timorese Carving, and What Makes It Distinct
An island with its own carving tradition, routinely mislabelled in British shops. What makes the work distinct and how to recognise it. Read more...
Antique, Black or White, Choosing a Mask Finish
Antique, Black or White, Choosing a Mask Finish
Three finishes that behave like three different objects once they are on a wall, and a simple rule for choosing between them. Read more...
Where to Hang a Carved Mask So It Reads as Sculpture
Where to Hang a Carved Mask So It Reads as Sculpture
One mask is sculpture. Six masks is a display cabinet. The difference is mostly about restraint. Read more...