It is sometimes black in color or else flesh-toned with a red nose. Although Venetian Carnival lost popularity as Venice's cultural production faltered during the  Enlightenment, it was officially reintroduced in 1979. It was again reestablished in 1979 and is again held annually. Mar 16, 2017 - History of masks is long and full of interesting things. By the time of the Renaissance, masks were a fixture of Carnevale celebrations. Others say it could come from Harlenkoenig, a Scandinavian hero. Truffaldino, Traccagnino, Bagattino, Tabarrino, Tortellino, Naccherino, Gradelino, Mezzettino, Polpettino, Nespolino, Bertoldino, Fagiuolino, Trappolino, Zaccagnino, Trivellino, Passerino, Bagolino, Temellino, Fagottino, Pedrolino, Fritellino, Tabacchino. Venetian masks have been worn in Venice, Italy, since antiquity. Additionally, the masks served an important social purpose of keeping every citizen on an equal playing field. These travelling teams of performers would set up in town squares and perform comedic sketches, juggling acts and acrobatics while wearing different masks. Moretta is an oval mask of black velvet that was usually worn by women visiting convents. It therefore lasted more than two months. Troupes occasionally would perform directly from the back of their traveling wagon, but this is more typical of Carro di Tespi, a sort of traveling theatre that dates back to antiquity. Arlecchino traditionally wore an outfit of patches and rags, which evolved into the lozenge-shaped motley seen today. Venetian Masks - 10 Things to Know Before You Buy Masks should be an extension of an actor and their costume, hair and accessories. The morale of the people was maintained through the use of masks—for with no faces, everyone had voices. JESTER, or JOLLY as a female variant, is a specific type of clown mostly associated with the Middle Ages. All Jesters and fools in those days were thought of as special cases whom God had touched with a childlike madness—a gift, or perhaps a curse. Many times he remains poor, constantly hungry. The origins of the name are uncertain. Some say it comes from Dante's Commedia where one of devils is called Alichino. Made for centuries in Venice, these distinctive masks were formed from  paper-mache and wildly decorated with fur, fabric, gems, or feathers. His work has been featured in Cracked and "The Atlantic.". You can employ the glass technique and decorate the masks with ribbons, porcelain or even leather. Even the nuns and monks of the clergy, bejeweled and dressed in the latest imported creations, wore masks and engaged in the same acts as the majority of their fellow citizens. Colombina aided her mistress, the inamorata to gain the affections of her one true love by manipulating Arlecchino and counter-plotting against Pantalone while simultaneously managing the whereabouts of the inamorato. Masks might represent old women, doctors, young lovers, nobles, beggars, foreigners, or characters from the theater entertainment known as Commedia dell’Arte. Read about many interesting facts about masks. They were made in unusual shapes and used in unusual ways. Venetian masks have a long history of protecting their wearer's identity during promiscuous or decadent activities. In general all Venetian masks may be classified under two major groups: These masks date back to the second half of the sixteenth century and represent characters, ethnic traditions, professions and trades closely tied to the different cities of Italy personified by professional actors in the Commedia dell'Arte (means Art of Comedy in Italian). Eventually the wearing of masks was so ubiquitous that the government … The wearing of masks in Venice is a tradition which goes back as far as the 12th century, and historians speculate that it was a response to one of the most rigid class structures in all of Europe. Visit www.kbwcorp.com! Other names: Liberty, Olga, Valeri, Salome, Fantasia, Regina. Other name: Joker, Fool, Buffoon / Boufon, Narr / Naaror, Juglar. Today, during Mardi Gras, revelers might wear Phantom of the Opera-style masks that only cover half the face, masks on sticks, sequined masks, feathered masks, lace masks, masks accompanied by headdresses and masks of many colors. He wore a green half-mask displaying a look of preternatural lust and greed. 10% DISCOUNT FOR REPEAT CUSTOMERS, WE SHIP QUICKLY! 1 History of Venetian Masks Mask-wearing has been a social custom in Venice since the 13th century, when masked men threw eggs at women during Carnival. WE CAN ADD STICK TO ALMOST ANY MASK LEARN MORE, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY! Venetian masks are beautiful and have a centuries-old history. Pulcinella often wears a black mask and long white coat, and has loose and straggly hair. BAUTA is famous through the Carnival of Venice as it is the main type of mask worn during the Carnival. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Jesters typically wore brightly colored clothing in a motley pattern. In Venice, mask-wearing helped to bridge social divisions. After all, the city is relatively small. His face is sometimes whitened with powder or flour. The cat rid the palace of all its mice and the man became rich. It may be encrusted with jewels and precious stones or decked with feathers, lace and ribbons, and painted. Within these restrictions the character was terribly elastic. It may came from the German "behten" (to protect), as well as from "bau"(or "babau"), typical Italian representation of the monster, or bad beast, used by adults to scare children. Commedia was the successor to Roman theater, masked like its predecessor but having little else in common. Masks were used during the celebration of carnival, the annual celebration of the election of Doge Vitale Michieli. If the actor playing the role is not naturally fat then he is padded out to make him seem so. Want to see more colorful and exquisite Venetian masks? Pliny the Elder mentions a royal Jester (planus regius) when recounting Apelles' visit to the palace of the Hellenistic King Ptolemy I. One of the worst scourges for the city of Venice was without any doubt the Plague, which struck the city on several occasions. He is extremely pompous, and loves the sound of his own voice, spouting ersatz Latin and Greek. Basically people wore the masks primarily to hide their social standingthan for hiding their own identity, that way allowing citizens of any status, from the average one to the noble man, to be kind of in incognito. He traditionally wears a large codpiece to advertise his virility (which everyone around him knows to be long gone) along with a mask with a long hooked nose, a tight red vest, red breeches and stockings, a black cassock, slippers and a brimless hat. Wearing Venetian masks has spread to Halloween masquerade balls and what North and South Americans call Mardi Gras, but they always carry their rich Italian history. People from Venice also use masks during other festivities such as weddings. He is an inveterate schemer. Male Commedia dell'Arte characters were depicted by actors wearing masks representing regions or towns. The use of masquerade masks dates back to 1268, in Venice. This character, of course, is none other than the Miles Glorious of Plautus, called in Italy Il Capitano Spavento della Valle Inferno, or simply Spavento. Women's clothing became more revealing; homosexuality, while publicly condemned, was embraced by the populace. Arlecchino often had a love interest in the person of Colombina, and his lust for her was only superseded by his desire for food or fear of his master. Unlike the vast majority of their counterparts in contemporary European nations, each citizen in  Venice enjoyed a high standard of living. back to top Commedia dell'Arte. Famous masks of the Commedia Dell'Arte included the Plague Doctor, a scary mask with a long, beaked nose, and the Gatto, a mask shaped like a cat. The female characters, however, were usually not masked. The characters and tropes of the Commedia have also been used in modern novels, from sword and sorcery to literary works, notably by Michael Moorcock in his Jerry Cornelius stories that culminate with the Guardian prize-winning The Condition of Muzak. Liberty, Olga, Valeri, Salome, Fantasia, Regina. Various troupes and actors would alter his behavior to suit style, personal preferences, or even the particular scenario being performed. Others say it could come from Harlenkoenig, a Scandinavian hero. Men and women could be flirting more freely, without the fear of moral judgment and have less inhibitions. Legend has it that a man who owned nothing but his old cat came to Venice from China. According to Pierre Louis Ducharte, Burrattino puppet's influence in Italy was so great that "by the end of the sixteenth century, all marionettes operated by strings and a wire were called burattini, instead of bagatelli or fantoccini, as they had been known up to that time.". Any servant could be mistaken for an aristocrat, and vice versa. The performances were improvised around a repertory of stock conventional situations, adultery, jealousy, old age, love, some of which can be traced in Roman comedies of Plautus and Terence. Though only mildly popular on the stage, Burrattino found his real fame in the marionette theater. Joker, Fool, Buffoon / Boufon, Narr / Naaror, Juglar. The society grew ever more decadent. The immense amount of travelers coming through the city meant that sexual promiscuity was commonplace and acceptable. Facts about African Masks 1: Influences. Cats were so scarce in Venice that they became the subject of one of the most typical masks. His costume is usually all or mostly black, sometimes with a white collar. Pulcinella became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. Mask, in Commedia dell'arte speaks of the types of characters that each represents and includes all of the characters including the lovers. Venetian masks have a long history of protecting their wearer's identity during promiscuous or  decadent activities. The wearing of the Venetian masks have truly gained global popularity and will remain part of the rich culture of Venice Italy as they celebrate the Carnival in Venice up to the present times. Some say it comes from Dante's Commedia where one of devils is called Alichino. Dottore Balanzone, Dottore Baloardo, Dottore Graziano. Nowadays, they are one of the best souvenirs to buy in Venice Masks have always been an essential component of the Venetian carnival. After the 1100s, the masquerade went through periods of being outlawed by the Catholic  Church, especially during holy days. The origins of the Jester are said to have been in prehistoric Western tribal society. French women favored the moretta mask, a black oval that was held in place by biting down on a button in the back, while men wore the white, ghost-like larva mask. Historically one of the most commonly worn masks during Carnival was the bauta mask, a mask that only covers half the face and was sometimes accompanied by a tri-cornered hat and cloak. He makes many cruel jokes about the opposite sex and believes that he knows everything about everything. 10% DISCOUNT FOR ORDERS OVER $500, WE SELL WHOLESALE PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS LEARN MORE, WE OFFER SAFE SHOPPING ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION YOU SUBMIT IS INCRYPTED AND 100% SECURE LEARN MORE, EXPRESS SHIPPING IS AVAILABLE CHOOSE UPS 3 DAY, 2 DAY, or NEXT DAY DURING CHECKOUT LEARN MORE, WEARING GLASSESS? The immense amount of travelers coming through the city meant that sexual promiscuity was commonplace and acceptable. Traveling teams of players would set up an outdoor stage and provide amusement in the form of juggling, acrobatics, and, more typically, humorous plays based on a repertoire of established characters with a rough storyline, called Canovaccio. 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