Speaking about Venetian mask designs, there’s a specific purpose behind each one. Each mask is distinguished from its brothers through its flamboyant design, style and design scheme. There are full face masks meant to totally mask one’s identity and there are masks that only cover half, hinting at the person behind. Let’s take a look at some of the well-known designs and their purpose.

Bauta: Full Face Venetian Masks

Full Face White Deco Mask

Full-faced masks are excellent to hide one’s identity. These masks leave everything to the imagination and provide complete anonymity. They were used for secrecy purposes in the olden days but are now used mostly during carnivals as part of one’s costume. There are several designs to choose from in this category, from glossy black, to silver macrem or gold macrem, white deco, enamel-covered and so on. There are also full-faced feather masks with bright feathers surrounding the mask face, such as red or tan tiger masks.

Columbina: Half-Face Velvet Masks

Columbina Velvet with PlumePink

These exotic masks are made of velvet and cover the top half of the face only. They are attached to the face by an elastic or velvet band that goes around the back of the head. These masks are ideal for masquerade parties. The velvet adds a touch of glamour and goes well with silk suits and ball gowns. Look for really exotic ones, such as the wing-shaped Columbia velvet finishing masks, or the Elfe mask with the plume stick, or the Azzuro to mezzo volto mask that comes with flowers.

Medico Della Peste: Zanni-Nazo Masks

Turchetto Brown/Gold Mask

If you like the bizarre and slightly scary, you’ll love the Zanni-Nazo masks with their long beaks. The long beaks resemble eagle beaks, and sometimes like the tails of snakes. These masks cover half the face. The round eyeholes are surrounded by crystals. You can go all out with your eye make up with these masks. You can get these masks in various colors, styles, sizes and looks. These masks are scary enough for Halloween, and genteel enough for masquerade balls.

Bauta: Full-faced Arlecchino Venetian Masks

Arlecchino Venetian Masks

These full faced masks come in different types. Each one is romantic, aesthetic and incredibly beautiful. There are several flavors among these masks such as Harlequin, Pantalone, Pierrot and Mandoline. Many of them are painted in glossy ivory enamel, with blue, red, gold and black designs superimposed on face. In some masks, one side will be painted blue, gold or black, while the other remains ivory. Gold paisley and twig designs are liberally applied artistically over the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. It’ll be difficult to pick just one of these amazing masks. Each one is a collector’s item.

Bauta: Full-Faced Jolly Venetian Masks

Jolly Curlie Top Mask

Court jesters would wear these ‘jolly’ masks that cover the entire face. They are called jolly masks because of their expression. Most of these masks look funny though some do look happy and sad at the same time. Metal curlicues surround the mask, making artistic curves. These curves sometimes look like snakes, bringing Medusa to mind. Sometimes the curves and curlicues resemble flying banners. These masks are intricately painted in gold, with white, red and gold accents to the chin and eye areas.

Columbina: Stick Masks

Columbina Colors Stick Mask

Stick masks are not attached to the face. Rather, the stick is carried by the wearer, placed right over the eyes to hide and mask their identity. When the person wants to reveal their identity, they just lower the stick a fraction. A seductive flash of the eye, and the stick goes back up again and the mystery’s back. Columbina stick masks usually cover just the eye, part of the forehead and part of the nose, leaving the sides of the face, the lips and the jaw exposed. These masks are very popular for masquerade balls and used to be especially favored by women.

Commedia: Full-Faced Emotion-Based Masks

Commedia Smile Colors

These masks resemble the classic sad and happy face masks that you see in feng-shui stores. They display exaggerated expressions, usually a large smile with the cheeks raised, or an open-mouthed, truly funny expression. Think of a person’s face as they watch a funny show and you’ll understand what these masks look like. Apart from conveying mystery and intrigue, these masks also convey emotion. For example, a person who’s sad within but wants to show he’s not sad could opt for a Commedia mask to hide his true emotions.

The Colorosa-Chiocciola Blue Azzuro Half Face Mask

Colorosa Chiocciola Mask

This is a mask that’s colorful, beautiful, artistically executed, graceful and feminine. The eye holes are curved beautifully, to resemble a woman’s eye shape. A woman whose eyes reflect any of the colors in the mask will look outstandingly beautiful while wearing it. The eye-holes are surrounded by gold and white crystals to add sparkle to the most beautiful feature on a woman’s face. This mask is ideal for a masquerade party.

The Malazia Black Eye Mask

Malazia Black Mask

This is a mask for the woman who feels supremely confident, a born seductress. This mask, when paired with a black or dark satin ball down is a downright winner. The eye mask is shaped like wings at the top, providing the perfect curves for a woman’s eyebrows. The top part of the eyeholes is painted in gold, and the bottom part is studded with crystals. This fabulous black and gold cat-eye creation is perfect for a masquerade party. The mask is attached to the back of the head using elastic.

The Columbina Stick Masks

Columbina Gold Stick Masks

Columbina stick masks come in various colors and styles. The plainer ones are white, black, red or gold, with crystals embedded around the edges. The more elaborate ones have crystals studded all over, or are painted in attractive designs. These stick masks are a woman’s especial favorite. She doesn’t have to wear it all the time. All she has to do is hide behind the mask when she chooses to, and reveal herself momentarily to her dance partner for a few seconds when she wants to. These masks are excellent for a peek-a-boo adventure at a masquerade ball.

The Animal Venetian Masks – Cats

Cat Monica Red

A beautifully designed and painted cat mask is a definite buy for a woman. A woman may give lion and tiger masks a miss but a cat’s curves are very in keeping with the mystique of the feminine mystique. Think of a beautiful white enamel cat mask, gilded with gold accents and studded with white crystals. Which woman would be able to resist something like that? How about a white cat mask, with gold and red accents? The red plays up the gold nicely, adding more glamor to the mask.

The Full-Face Feather Masks

Full face black/aqua Tiger Feathers Mask

These masks have beautifully painted full faces, with delicate features, full lips and curvy eye holes. The feathers around the face frame it beautifully. The feathers actually look as though the mask head is wearing a wig. The forehead and eye are of the full-face mask is further covered by a gold or silver eye mask, studded with crystals and glitter. It’s a mask within a mask, double mystique, double mystery, hard for any woman to resist.

The Arlecchino Pierrot Mask

Pierrot Venetian mask

Not all of the arlecchino masks are suited for women. Some of them have strong features, more suited for a man. However, the pierrot is a romantic, soft-featured mask with delicately curved, red-painted lips. The face is delicately feminine, mysterious and enchanting. The left side of this hand-painted papier-mache mask is gilded with gold, while gold filigree painting is done all over the mask with white relief.

The Columbina Half-Face Eye Mask

Beautiful Columbina Gold

These masks are eminently suitable for both men and women. The eye masks are delicately made with large curved eyeholes, ideal for showing off make up. Some have tiny crowns studded in the inner curve of the top line, giving this mask style a touch of royalty. Even though the Columbina eye masks are bold in style, they are loved by women all over. They are the ideal foil to a woman’s beauty and mystery.

The Velvet Venetian Mask

Columbina Velvet with Plume Azzurro

These masks are nothing but sheer poetry in motion. The Columbina Antenna is a gold half-face mask with pearls studded around the eye holes, and curved antenna on top, just meant for a beautiful female bee. The Columbina Velvet with Plume Azzurro on the other hand is a silver eye mask with black polka dots, overlaid with black net for additional mystery. Black plumes extend from the sides to flutter next to the wearer’s face. The Elfe with plume series are delicate-looking eye masks with glitter, net, plumes and crystals. They come in red, gold, black and multi-colored styles. The velvet venetian mask comes both in plain Columbina and Columbina stick styles and is a hit with

Why Venetian Masks For Halloween

Just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean that one should wear scary ghoul masks or the ubiquitous batman mask. Halloween is all about bringing the darker side of you out into the open, to openly show the mysterious, suspenseful and intriguing aspects of your personality. A beautiful Venetian can achieve this result more effectively than all the witch, ghost and silly ghoulish costumes in the world.

Best Venetian Masks For Halloween

Specific kinds of Venetian masks are best suited to bring out the spirit of Halloween while keeping your look exclusive and artistic. These masks are all exquisitely molded and designed by hand, with top-of-the-line quality, paints and accessories guaranteed to last for a long time.

Full-face Feather Masks

Full face black/red tiger feathers Mask

Try a full-face feather mask that not just covers your face, but provide a halo of brightly-colored feathers around your face. These masks spell secrecy, romance, mystery, intrigue and juicy rendezvous. This is the mask you opt for when you want to hide your true intentions. These masks are not for the fainthearted; they are for the adventurous ones, the ones that don’t mind standing out and leaving a huge impression behind. They help you look sinister, bringing out the danger element in you. The glorious tiger feathers spread out from your face, making you look like an avenging spirit from the nether regions.

Full-Face Venetian Masks

Full Face Cut Out Mask

You could be anyone before putting on a full-face Venetian mask. A clerk, a secretary, a computer operator, a pizza delivery person – just about anyone. Put on a stylized, strategically painted, high cheekbone golden full-face mask, and voila! you’re someone else altogether. You’re some of mystery, someone who knows what they want, and someone not to mess with. Someone with an excellent taste. These masks cover your face, altering your bone structure completely. If you had a plump face before, once you don this mask, you look sculpted and classical. Your eyes are left free, to range about and telegraph your intentions, all the more mysterious when viewed through the mask.

The Full-Faced Jolly Mask

Jolly Curlie Mask

These masks not only cover your entire face, but they also provide a medusa-like effect around your face, a most sinister, scary and artistically dangerous look. It’s more beautiful and far scarier than any Halloween mask you might consider wearing. The curling metal curlicues on these masks resemble the rear ends of rare lizards, cockroaches and serpents in the various flavors. Even as they look dangerous, they impart a royal look to your face as well, with the well-defined facial structure, design and attributes.

The Wild Inca Mask

Blue Incas Crackle Mask

These wild-looking masks cover the top half of your face. The area around the eyes is painted in wild colors, just like the colors used in the masks worn by Incan chiefs. The top part of the mask is covered in wild feathers that reach a good height. This mask will actually make you look a bit taller than you are, and will add fierceness to your eyes. Draw red lines on your eyelids and mouth and you will look like a scary, out of control wild Indian.

The Zani-Nazo Mask

Red Turchetto Mask

These masks are classy examples of elegance, daring, dangerous look and other-worldliness. They cover the top half your face, leaving the bottom half free. However, the top half is so startling to look at, even if you don’t decorate your bottom half, you’ll still give off the same effect. The forehead part is curved, the eyes are triangular slits and the nose is either arched like a royal eagle’s, or curved down like a snake.

The Animal Mask

Cat Mask

There are various kinds of cat masks, red cats, silver cats and decorative enamel cats. There are lion masks in both gold and silver, complete with fierce expressions. These masks are ideal for someone whose idea of Halloween is to adopt a mysterious identity and prowl among society, and not to scare people.

The Arlecchino Masks

Lady Harlequin Mask

These are full-faced masks that bring the ‘Phantom of the Opera’ into mind. They are extremely well-designed and beautiful painted, with well-drawn out features. The eye holes are beautifully curved. Wear false eyelashes with these masks.  On some of these masks, different colors, glitter and highlights are used to bring out the profile or the area below the eyes.

Ancient Greek actors used to wear masks during festivals in honor of the God of Theater, Dionysus. However, given the huge proportions of ancient amphitheaters, the audiences couldn’t see the actors’ expressions clearly. That’s when the theater groups decided to wear elaborated designed and painted masks to convey emotions and reactions. There were laughing masks, crying masks, angry masks, broken-hearted masks – you name it.

Full face black/aqua tiger feathers Masks

The mask culture was passed on to the Romans when they conquered Italy, along with the love of elaborate theater. The Romans passed on the love of masks to the rest of Europe.

Masks And The Common People

Incas Arlecchino Red Tiger Feathers Mask

From the theater, it didn’t take long for masks to become a costume accessory for both common and rich folks. People were quick to take advantage of the fact that these masks allowed the lower classes to mix with the upper classes without scandal. It also allowed free, unadulterated voyeurism, as it was possible to watch anyone without pretense while hiding behind the mask. Most of all, it allowed men and women to be intimate with each other in public. Men could dress as women and mingle among them more easily as well. Masks provided the ideal solution to a rule-strapped, conservative society which did not allow free expression of people’s desires.

Masks And Carnivals And Masquerade Parties

Carnivals and masquerade parties became the ideal melting pot for different classes, communities and kinds of people to mix and blend without question. People continued to wear masks during their every day routines and soon several regions of Europe began to witness unacceptable social scandals, daring robberies and other lawless behavior. In Venice, masks were outlawed in order to prevent such behavior. However, the use of masks continued in parties and carnivals.

The Custom Of Masks In New Orleans

Columbina Gold Crackle Stick Mask

Mardi Gras was introduced to New Orleans by its original French settlers. The celebration started as a strictly catholic procession, but it was outlawed. However, a rich French plantation owner, Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville raised funds to initiate an official Mardi Gras celebration in 1833. Since then, Mardi Gras has been an official New Orleans holiday, a day when all people are equal, notwithstanding their class, creed, color or economic situation.

The Present Day Mardi Gras Celebration

Present day Mardi Gras celebrations are organized by the Krewe group, a secret group whose members prefer to keep their identities secret. The first Mardi Gras celebration was organized by the Mystick Krewe of Comus organization.

Tao Black Mask

This group ‘Americanized’ the old French Creole carnival tradition, till it evolved into something totally unique. This Creole-American Carnival day was declared a legal state holiday in 1875. In 1991, to prevent lawlessness and race discriminatory crimes behind masks, the New Orleans City Council ruled that all carnival organizers must make their identities known to the city’s Human Relations Commission. This ruling was later on canceled since it infringed on the rights of privacy which was granted by the First Amendment.

Today, anyone can join the Krewe carnival organizers after paying a fee. This is totally different from the old Krewe structure which offered membership only to white males of a certain class.

What Happens During Mardi Gras

Zanni Batocchio Brown/Gold Mask

Private masked balls take place from January 6^th, exactly twelve days after Christmas. This continues till Mardi Gras Day. On Mardi Gras day, men and women dress in their very best – tuxedos and ball gowns, cocktail outfits and so on. People don elaborate, glittery and highly imaginative masks to cloak their features. The masks leave the eyes exposed, and sometimes the lips. People wear long bead necklaces and throw beads and coins at each other.

Krewe members parade their finest on floats, throwing doubloons, beads and other items to people. People mingle freely, sing songs and enjoy themselves during the carnival.

The Official Mardi Gras Colors

Parade goers wear green, purple and gold. These colors were chosen by the Krewe of the Rex parade in 1872; green symbolizes faith, purple justice, and gold, power. You’ll see these colors in Mardi Gras masks as well.

Types Of Masks Worn

People wear either fixed masks or stick masks which are held over the eye. Masks are feathered, painted and gilded with glitter, sequins, gold paint and intriguing designs.

Commedia Masks

Comedia Venetian masks: Pick a mask based on the feeling you want to express. There are sad masks, happy masks, fun masks, quirky masks, and masks with long pointed noses and raised eyebrows! All of them are exquisitely designed and painted in gold tones.

Full Face Mask

Full face Venetian masks: These are meant to cover your face fully and give you maximum anonymity. You can choose a mask all in multiple finishes – gold, white and gold, white and black, all black and so on. These masks are true works of art.