European masks have a long history. first signs of masks were primitive, masks of animals used during rites, later on they started apearing in ancient greece, as masks for actors.
Venetian masks have always been the main factor of the venetian carnival, although during time, there were moments when people would wear them everyday. we can distinguish 5 types of venetian masks. Bauta the ones covering the full face, Columbina, highly decorated, hiding only half the face - the most spectacular as well as beautiful in my opinion. another type is called Medico della Peste - quite recognizable, as doctors or maybe should i call them, reapers during the black plague wore them, as protection from the diesease. next are Servetta Mutta - masks worn by patrician woman, covering the face, except wide eyeholes. Last but not least Volto - white masks indicating ghosts - they enabled eating, drinking without removing the mask.
European masks were creative, wonderfully decorated and had important meanings. nowadays we wear masks only during carnival or other events like halloween, nevertheles the memory of spectacular venetian masks will never leave the europen history.
a Columbina Mask
a Volto mask
a Medico della Peste mask
a Bauta Mask
a Servetta Muta Mask
