What are Venetian masks called?

volto
The volto (Italian for face) or larva (meaning ghost in Latin) is the iconic modern Venetian mask: it is often made of stark white porcelain or thick plastic, though also frequently gilded and decorated, and is commonly worn with a tricorn and cloak.

How much is a Venice mask?

Price: to make a carnival mask out of real cartapesta, even the smallest one possible, can take hours of work and thus will never cost less than 10-12 euros. If you find yourself shopping in Venice and come across a ‘mask’ that costs less than this, again, you can be sure that you’re looking at an industrial knock-off.

When were Venetian masks banned?

1797
The Venetian Carnival itself began as the celebration of a military victory by the Republic of Venice over the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162, and continued for centuries until it was outlawed by the Austrian government (which then ruled Venice) in 1797, at which point mask-wearing became a rare and restricted practice.

How many types of Venetian masks are there?

The main types of Venetian masks are the bauta, moretta, gnaga, medico della pesta, pantalone, arlechino, colombina (see further). Today, costumes worn at the Carnival vary to a certain degree from the original characters and often combine various elements of different origin.

Where are Venetian masks from?

Historical Venetian Masks These are the styles of Venetian Carnival masks that were worn in the Republic of Venice from the Middle Ages to its fall in 1797. They are ancient in their origins. The first law regulating their wearing dates back to the 13th century but masks were in use in Venice even before then.

Why does Venice have so many masks?

History of the Venice Carnival Masks. The tradition of the mask started in the 13th century when Venetians would hold celebrations and parties from December 26th until the start of Lent and wear elaborate masks to conceal their identity. These parties were the only time when the lower and upper classes mingled together …

What were Venetian masks used for?

Venetian masks were traditionally worn to protect the identity of the wearer and were eventually worn during the Venetian Carnival. The masks are divided into two categories: Commedia dell’ Arte masks and Carnival masks.

What are half masks called?

Respirators that cover the nose and mouth are called half-mask respirators. Those that cover the face, including the eyes, are called full-face respirators.

Why did Venetians wear masks?

The tradition of the mask started in the 13th century when Venetians would hold celebrations and parties from December 26th until the start of Lent and wear elaborate masks to conceal their identity. These parties were the only time when the lower and upper classes mingled together.

What materials are used to make a Venetian mask?

Venetian masks date back to around the year 1200. The masks were made mainly with the products present at the time, such as paper and glue ( papier-mâché ), earth and clay ( ceramic /plaster), rags, fabric or pieces of animal skin ( leather ). These were the ” raw materials ” that were found in those years.

Why do people wear Venetian masks?

The history of the venetian masks stems from the nature of Venice . Basically people wore the masks primarily to hide their social standing than 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.

What are the masks in Venice?

Venetian mask Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition of Venice, Italy. The masks are typically worn during the Carnival (Carnival of Venice), but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer’s identity and social status.

What is the purpose of Venetian masquerade masks?

The history of the venetian masks stems from the nature of Venice Basically people wore the masks primarily to hide their social standing than 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. Any servant could be mistaken for an aristocrat, and vice versa.