Venetian mask: types, purpose, manufacturing at home

The magnificence of the Venetian carnival is admired all over the world. The popularity of the most massive, bright and enchanting holiday, where in the forefront are a variety of costumes and masks, went far beyond Italy. It is believed that only in this country you can feel the atmosphere of this carnival - a carefully preserved annual tradition, which is rightly called one of the brightest symbols of Venice. In this article we will talk about such an indispensable subject of any fancy dress, like a Venetian mask.

A little bit about the past

The history of this subject is amazing and profound: it is now a person hiding only on a holiday, and in the past, Italians could wear masks almost every day. And not always with good goals or for the sake of innocent pampering. Criminals and murderers, for obvious reasons, preferred to hide their face when they went out to work. We should not forget about lovers who did not want to put their feelings to the general discussion. Aristocrats also often wore masks - to incognito inclined to stroll through the streets of the city and, possibly, commit some crazy or unbecoming status. Unfortunately, soon the Venetian mask became so popular with criminals that city authorities forbade residents to hide faces not on public holidays.

Types of carnival masks

Gatto (Cat). In Venice, there have always been very few cats - perhaps the fluffy animals did not like the abundance of water around and inside the city. For this reason, cats have always had a very respectful attitude here. So much so that they were even given Venetian carnival masks with ears.

Medico della Peste (Doctor of the Plague ). In the past centuries, the plague was a terrible disaster for many large cities. During epidemics, such eerie masks, along with a black outfit, were worn by doctors. It was believed that they protect their owner from infection. Inside the long beak were placed special substances and essential oils, and in the hands of the doctor held a special cane so as not to touch the sick with his hands.

Volto (Volta or Citizen). A very common Venetian mask worn by ordinary people. Oval, it is the most approximate in shape to the human face. Such a mask was fastened to the head with the help of tapes running away from it, and could also be attached to the handle. In the latter case, the mask was held in the hand and simply applied to the face at the right time.

Moretta. This Venetian mask is interesting in that it does not have a hole for the mouth. Instead, there is a special pin on the inside that needs to be clamped with teeth. Women who put on such an accessory could not speak, which made them look very mysterious. This oval mask was trimmed with black velvet.

Bauta. Another popular variety of masks, which acquired its name from a fictional monster, an analogue of our "Baba" - they were afraid of disobedient children by the townspeople . Also this mask is famous for the fact that she preferred to wear Casanova. In honor of him, a special kind of this accessory was created - "Bauta Casanova". Externally, the mask looks creepy, but it is thanks to its shape that it allows the owner to drink and eat without opening his face. In addition, the mask distorts the voice of the wearer, allowing him to remain unrecognized.

Production of masks

This amazing accessory is usually purchased in the theme stores, but for the annual carnival it is customary to make Venetian masks by oneself. Residents of Venice in advance buy everything you need and a few months, or even for a whole year create a unique masterpiece. To make the most simple mask you will need a plastic blank (bought in the store), polyethylene, fine-grained sandpaper, several brushes of different diameters, sponge, adhesive and decoction napkins, hairdryer, acrylic primer and paints, disposable plate, contour paints. Also, two long ribbons are required to attach the mask to the face and decorative materials (feathers, braid, lace, sequins, rhinestones, etc.).

Technique of performance of work

It is advisable to plan the appearance of the product in advance, in which style and color it will be executed. After that you can start working. First, you need to sand the plastic blank, then apply a primer on its entire surface and blow dry with a hairdryer. The next step is to take the sponge and use it to apply a layer of acrylic dye over the mask. This will be the background of your mask, so it is applied to the entire surface. Do not take too much paint, otherwise it will cover with bubbles. Now you need to use the hair dryer again. After drying from above, another layer of the background paint should be applied.

Next, tear off the fragment with a pattern from the napkin for decoupage. We divide it into the necessary pieces and attach it to the mask with the help of a suitable glue (if desired, you can spread it with your fingers). This is one of the most difficult stages, because everything must be done very carefully: any shortcomings and irregularities will immediately appear on the product. After gluing all the fragments, the surface should be dried again with a hairdryer. Now the ornament of the drawing can be finished with the help of contour paints, after which it is possible to show imagination and add sequins or braid, decorating the mask to your liking. At the final stage, two tapes are attached to the accessory.