A superb vintage Mexican 'Catrine' dance mask (fancy man or dandy) made by master craftsman from the state of Tlaxcala - circa 1950's.  Carved and lacquered wood with reverse painted glass eyes, eyelashes, nearly paper thin walls and excellent surface patina. The manufacture of these masks is laborious, and examples such as this may takes months to complete. An extremely polished finish is achieved by use of a gesso undercoat applied to the wood, making fine sanding and shaping easier for the carver.