Raksha Khetan 1
Week One
Venetian masks have existed for centuries and can be found all over the world in books, in costume shops, as art in galleries and even in movies. These highly decorated disguises have become a part of many cultures influenced by the Venetians.
To make the masks, first the maker will create a clay mold in the shape of a face.
Then papier-mâché, thin strips of paper and glue are placed over the mold and allowed to dry before the mask can be decorated lavishly with paint, glitter, feathers, fur, jewels, lace and leather.
The masks of Venice are mainly used for the carnival; they have been the main feature of the Venetian carnival. Traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day, December 26) and the start of the carnival season at midnight of Shrove Tuesday. There are many different types of Venetian masks, but the main two are Bauta and the Columbina.
The Bauta masks, also known as Baùtta, are designed to comfortably cover the whole face. Among the various masks made in Venice during the 18th century, the Bauta masks were worn by men, women,