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The Zanni Masquerade Mask is available in white or black. It is hand-made in Venice, Italy from high quality paper mache’.

The Mask is blank, so you can keep it a solid color, or customize it by painting it yourself. The facial features are sculpted, and the nose is 10” long.

In the Italian improv, Commedia Del Arte’ (comedy of errors), Zanni was a popular character. He was a long-nosed, comical and submissive servant who was often mistreated by his master or mistress. He was the inspiration for the character “Pulcinella” (“Punch” in Punch and Judy). This is a traditional Zanni mask.

“Zanni” is derived from the name “Giovanni,” and eventually evolved into the word “zany”, meaning crazy.

The masquerade dates back to ancient Greek festivals that were thrown to honor Dionysus, the god of wine, sex, fertility, and the theatre. The practice of wearing masks and costumes was shared among both the performers and guests of the festival, and was passed from Greece to Rome, and from Rome to Venice.

Masquerading is very popular at festivals, carnivals, and balls. Wearing a mask is liberating, in that it allows you to reinvent yourself and adopt a new, different, or secret personality.

These masks are made from thigh quality paper mache. These masks are comfortable, and tie in the back with ribbon on each side. The ribbon allows you to wear a mask, or hang it decoratively.

The ancient mask-making art form is alive and well today, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to share it with you.