Traditional

The majority of our masks in this category are characters sourced from the "Commedia dell'Arte" (translated as "the comedy of artists").  This was a form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century.

Characters in Commedia dell'Arte include:

• Arlecchino (Harlequin)
• Pantelone
• Il Dottore (The Doctor)
• Colombina
• Pulcinella
• Il Capitano (The Captain)
• Zanni
• Pierrot

These masks are the designs that were used in this theatre and are all hand-made, using the same techniques and designs used in the 16th century.

To find out more about Commedia dell'Arte click here.

Whilst these masks make arresting ornaments, reaching back to life in the 15th Century in Venice, they are also amazing pieces to wear to a masked ball if you really want to make an impact! Our son wore one to a masked party and it was a huge success!

Also included are the famous, "Comedy, Tragedy" masks also used in the theatre at the time, with accentuated expressions to truly communicate passionate feeling.

More recent additions include "Phantom" popularised by the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, but originally written in France in the early 1900s.

Browse through the range below.