The history of Venetian Masks goes so far back in time it’s fantastic, beyond what we would expect in the modern world……
A tourist recalls dreamy days lost in the labyrinth of cobblestone lanes and watery reflections, music, art and the unmistakable feeling of being lost in time. Quaint Venetian shop windows are filled to the brim with modern and traditional masks that mesmerize the viewer, as if by magic.
In this lost moment we share a fascination that goes back in time to before Napoleon, Casanova and the plague…… we find ourselves in the time of the Pharaohs, a time of masked pagan festivals to the Sun God that celebrated the potential of the coming harvest.
Julius Caesar and his legions delighted in returning to their loved ones with exotic treats, gifts and tales of their experiences. The culture hungry Italians readily accepted customs and beliefs from foreign lands and made them their own.
Though conflicting with Christian beliefs, the Egyptian Pagan Masked Festival was embraced by the worldly Italians and became a popular yearly event. About 1500 years ago the Pope of the time declared the Festival to be called Carnevale which would be a great Celebration of Indulgence that precedes the Lenten period of fasting.
This Christian makeover helped the Mask to flourish and in 1436 the Mask Makers Guild of Venice was founded by members who sought to be held apart from the “general artisans” of the ancient city.
Carnevale was a joyous time of revelry and excess. The rich mingled with the poor and the mask granted anonymity to the wearer thus becoming a useful tool to those who required secrecy in a time of courtesans, forced marriage and religious control over sexual persuasion.
Venice’s shipping port brought wealth but also invited the plague several times. Symptoms of the plague included fever, sores and swollen infected glands. The survivors were left with scarred faces and I imagine some stigma was attached to how the scars were acquired. During Carnevale the scars were so easily disguised behind the mask that the flamboyant Venetians sought to wear it all year round.
Indeed, it was as common place to wear a mask as sunglasses are in our time and the city of Venice became one of the most elegant and cultured places in the world. The day to day life within the city would have been filled with drama and excitement further embellished by wealth and fashion. Specific historical masks evolved including the “Doctor of the Pestilence” who was the cloaked Doctor during the time of the plague.
The mask was essentially birdlike with glasses that implied the wearer was well educated. Within the beak cavity was a sachet of sweet smelling disinfectant herbs. The superstitious believed the plague to be an evil manifestation and the intimidating bird shape mask was intended to ward off evil. The doctor would lift the bed covers cautiously looking for puss filled abscesses on the patient that would confirm the worst.
The graphics of this time can be impossible for us to picture so I recommend you see the movies “A Destiny of Her Own” or Heath Ledgers “Casanova” and Venice will come to life in your mind never to be forgotten. You will feel Venetian and these movies will leave you with life like memories.
The Moretta mask was most popular in Venice but specifically worn by the unwed ladies who held the mask to their face by biting onto a button located on the inside of the mask near the mouth. This rendered the girls silent as they could not talk without dropping the mask.
The young men of Venice found it mysteriously alluring that the young women were completely silent. Of course once married the lady had not only a voice but an opinion which was sometimes quite unwelcome.
Cats were brought back to Venice from Egypt when Cleopatra gifted cats to the Romans. Cleopatra’s massive wheat silos were protected from rodents by cats. This helped ensure the continuous supply of food to her people. With the most noble of intentions the sacred cat was given to Julius Caesar to ensure that the Romans had the same protection and from this gift the domestic cat was introduced to Europe.
The plague once again demonstrated the cats’ usefulness because the cats helped control vermin that spread the dreaded disease. To this day Cat Masks are readily available in Venice as the Venetians are fond of this delightful domestic creature.
Ancient theatre also required the wearing of masks. Whimsical Commedia dell Arte characters like Pulchinello, Scaramouche, Arlecchino, Zane and Capitano traditionally wore the masks according to their character. These traditional Venetian Masks are quite often made from hand made Paper Mache and are still sought after during Carnivale…… the young men particularly love to wear Scaramouche who is a mischievous rogue with a very long nose and Pulchinello who is glutenous, laze and promiscuous.
The most Venetian Mask is undoubtedly the Bauta Mask which is worn by men and women with a long black cloak and a tricorn hat. It is said that the Bauta Mask is the ultimate disguise with the prominent mouth piece disguising the voice, the cloak disguises the gender and of course the face is completely covered.
The famous Venetian lover, doctor and lawyer Casanova would have most definitely worn the Bauta Mask. Gentlemen cut a dashing figure with their tricorn hat adding to their stature and the long black cape flowing as they walked down the cobblestone streets of the ancient city. In Venice the Bauta mask is commonly called Casanova.
The Spanish Inquisition sought to eradicate the masks from Venice. It was impossible to police the promiscuous masked city and the Inquisition, though deadly serious, did not succeed in their endeavours.
When Napoleon conquered the Serene Republic of Venice he stamped out the wearing of masks because it posed a profound security problem.
Hundreds of years went by before masks were reborn in 1978 when a sentimental artistic father decided to make some masks for his family to enjoy, similar to those that would have been used before the time of Napoleon.
So often was he asked where he got the masks from that the man decided to meet the demands of those who celebrated Carnevale. The following year he organised the poor art students of the University of Venice to make masks for Carnevale.
It was an immediate success and these days the modern tourist would not be able to imagine the pre 1978 days when there were no masks in Venice.
Masks are modern art forms reflecting the imagination of the artisan. Modern masks celebrate all that is Venetian. They often include Music decoupage because Vivaldi wrote his music in Venice. Cats, Bauta Masks, Amazon Warriors, Phantom of the Opera Masks and Commedia dell Arte characters bring to life an already inspiring backdrop of canals, unique architecture and cobblestone streets.
Insignia Masks has transported this Venetian Masquerade romance to Australia with passion and commitment for almost two decades. We specialise in Wholesale Venetian Masquerade Masks, Decorator Masks and Murano Glass Jewellery as well as maintaining the Insignia Masks Collector’s Club.
We wish you great pleasure from your own Venetian Masquerade Mask and Decorator Mask experience.