Masquerade Ball Masks

History of Masquerade Ball Masks

The origins of the masquerade ball can be traced to the Italian Renaissance, and the public costume parties were especially popular in Venice. The dances were held for the upper classes and nobility, but the special attraction of the mask was that people could flirt and dance with anyone, which would not have been allowed under any other circumstance.

Over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, masquerade balls became popular throughout continental Europe and England, and eventually in colonial America. There were those who railed against the balls, claiming that they were a negative foreign influence that encouraged immorality and shamefully allowed “commoners” to consort with the aristocracy. Fortunately, the lure of the balls was too strong to allow such views to gain much traction.

Types of Masquerade Ball Masks

A masquerade ball mask can be just about any style or design you like, which is why there were once entire guilds of mask-makers devoted to the craft and to pleasing their customers. The most commonly seen sorts of masks are:

• Half Mask: This is the mask that goes over the eyes. It traditionally covers most of the forehead and nose and is secured to the face by ribbons.
• Full Mask: This mask covers the entire face. For practicality’s sake, the mouth is often open, but many wearers preferred that nothing of their faces be seen to add to the mystique. Food, drink and kisses had to be sneaked in shadows.
• Head Mask: A mask to cover the entire head, usually worn so as to show off more elaborate designs on the back of the mask, such as animal hair, feathers or fabric that would intertwine with the wearer’s costume.
• Stick Mask: This mask isn’t really used for masquerade purposes, because once you need your hand for something else, your face is revealed. The mask you hold against your face is perfect for strolling in a Mardi Gras parade, or just through the ball, using your eyes and mouth to flirt shamelessly.

Buying Masquerade Ball Masks

If you’re going to a very elaborate ball, you should have a very elaborate mask. A beautiful mask will be on the expensive side, but when the party is over, it makes a striking wall decoration you can keep forever – until you take it down for another ball, of course.

For a selection of traditional papier mache masks, go to Masks and Make Believe, which has a wide selection of handcrafted masks, including seductive animal faces, jesters, Pinocchios and masks decorated with feathers and beads.

Other good sources of masks include:

• Anytime Costumes
• Buy Costumes
• Gypsy Renaissance

Make Your Own Masquerade Ball Mask

Channel your inner artisan by building your own mask. This can be as simple or extensive as you choose. If you’re crafty and know how to work with papier mache, you can design a really spectacular mask, but the easier way to go is to buy a half mask in a craft shop and decorate it as you like.

Don’t buy the cheapest mask, as it won’t hold much. A plastic mask or one with some cardboard backing is better. Between a craft shop and a fabric shop, you’ll be able to find feathers, beads, sequins, velvet, appliqués and fabric paint to create a look that is unique, seductive and matches your costume.

If you’ve really gone all out, be sure to add ribbons to tie your mask on, in addition to the elastic it comes with. In addition to looking prettier, you’ll want the extra security. You haven’t gone to all that trouble to disguise yourself only to have the mask fall off!