TITLE: Paper Carnival Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: France
SUBREGION: N/A
ETHNICITY: French
DESCRIPTION: Carnival character mask
CATALOG ID: EUFR001
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Carnival
AGE: ca. 1930s
MAIN MATERIAL: kraft paper
OTHER MATERIALS: paint; copper wire; human hair
During the 1930s in Europe, sluggish economies created demand for inexpensive versions of traditional Carnival masks that had previously been made from wood or thick paper maché. Enterprising companies began making disposable masks from cheaper kraft paper, hand painted by the abundant labor available due to high unemployment. This mask originates in France and represents a clown-like character. The toothbrush mustache originated in United States around 1900 and spread to Europe, where it remained popular until early 1940s.
