Commedia Dell'Arte Masks
Leather masks made with traditional techniques
Leather masks made with traditional techniques
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Arlecchino
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Pantalone
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Capitano
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Dottore
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The Masks in Action
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The Making
The actor's face is cast in plaster, and the mask features are modeled in clay upon the cast. Then the mask is carved from wood, carefully recreating all proportions so it will fit the face. Next, vegetable-tanned leather is soaked in hot water, worked over the wooden mold and nailed to the back. As the leather slowly dries, it is compressed into the details of the mold using a horn hammer, and the divets smoothed with a hard wooden tool. When fully dry and formed on the mold, it is removed, dyed, edged, and given a wax finish.
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