Bolivian Carnaval de Oruro Mask: "Kuntur"
Bolivian Carnaval de Oruro Mask: "Kuntur"
Bolivian Carnaval de Oruro Mask: "Kuntur"

Bolivian Carnaval de Oruro Mask: "Kuntur"

Collection: Spiritual Connections

Object Category: Masks
Object Type: Festival Masks

Country: Bolivia
Continent: South America
Geographic Region: Southern America
Materials: Tin
width: 16 in; height: 13 in; depth: 11 in

This Bolivian mask represents the condor, "kuntur" in the Quechua language. The condor is a majestic bird that had been worshipped as a deity by the Aymara and Quechua Peoples.

The Oruro Carnaval blends Catholic and Indigenous rituals, mixing the Catholic religion's teachings about the Virgin and Devil with the Indigenous ideas of Pachamama and Tio Supay. Pachamama is the Earth Mother who the Indigenous people believe is a giving and benevolent goddess. El Tio was the Andean pre-conquest underworld figure who was lord of the hills.

Although the Spanish conquerors forbade indigenous celebrations, the festivities continued disguised as Catholic celebrations. Andean gods were integrated into Christian images: Pachamama took on the persona of the Virgin Candelaria and El Tio becomes a malevolent character who transforms into the devil for Carnaval.

The mask's metal construction represents its origin in Oruro, a silver mining area for hundreds of years. 

Source:
https://www.bolivianlife.com/carnival-in-oruro/
http://masksoftheworld.com/wp-content/maskoftheworld_archives/South_America/Bolivian Diablo Mask 3.htm