The Best Masquerade Masks

Our Top Carnival Masquerade Mask

Prices Start at Under $40 for a Beautiful Mask

Venetian masquerade masks are extremely beautiful works of art and come from the Carnival of Venice, Italy or Carnevale di Venezia. The Carnevale was recorded for the first time in documentation in 1092, when it was thought to come from the annual Dogate of Vitale Falier celebration. It is one of the oldest and most unbelieveable festivals in Europe, allowing people to celebrate hedonism in diguise for centuries. St. Mark Square in Venice is the heart of the Carnival festivities, with people roaming the streets singing, dancing and playing games all incognito.

There are five basic types of Venetian masks and all can be made from leather, the original paper mache trick or like modern day masks, with the application of gesso and gold leaf. The type of mask worn the most during Carnevale, was the Bauta. Bauta is a mask with a square jawline, pointed chin, no mouth and covers the entire face for complete anonymity. Bautas were not just for Carnival, people wore them for other affairs as well to keep their identities secret.

The Moretta is a black velvet oval mask that was thought to bring forth the more feminine features. It was held in place by a bit or button that went between the bearer’s teeth and the look was usually finished with a veil. Moretta or Servetta Muta, translates into ‘mute maid servent’. Made from fine wax cloth, the Larva or Volto masquerade mask is almost all white and usually worn with a tricorn(three cornered hat) and cloak to complete the costume.

In the 16th century, a beautiful actress from Commdeia Dell’arte or also known as Extemporal Comedy, inspired the Columbina masquerade mask. Columbina, Columbine or Columbino, as it was called, is a half mask that was held up to the face by a baton or tied with ribbon. It is said that the actress thought herself too pretty to cover her entire face. Columbine masks are most always eccentrically decorated with many things like fur, feathers, jewels, gold, silver and crystals.

Probably one of the most recognizable masks from Venice is the Medico Della Peste or The Plague Doctor. A french physician named Charles de Lorme designed the mask as a precaution when treating patients with the plague. Medico Della Peste is a full faced mask with a long narrow and hollow beak. They are usually all white and have round eye holes that are covered with crystal discs.

Mask-makers or mascherari held very special positions in society with their own laws and even their owns guilds. The Carnevale was outlawed by the fascist government in the 1930s, and it was not recelebrated until 1979, when it was brought back by a young group of theatre and culture followers. Now the visitors to the Carnival of Venice are estimated at more than 500,000. Carnival starts about two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. The Gran Ballo della Cavalchina at the Teatro La Fenice or The Feniche Theatre, is in many opinions the grandest and most amazing of all the events at the Carnival of Venice.

Venetian masquerade masks can be made out of a variety of different materials and decorated with as much or as little flare as wanted. They are beautiful, unique and a great way to become the life of the party, while hiding your true face.