TITLE: Monkey Soldier Mask
TYPE: helmet mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Switzerland
SUBREGION: Lucerne
ETHNICITY: Swiss
DESCRIPTION: Monkey Soldier Carnival mask
CATALOG ID: EUCH019
MAKER: Hugo Stadelmann (Lucerne, 1953- )
CEREMONY: Fasnacht (Carnival)
AGE: 2023
MAIN MATERIAL: hard plastic
OTHER MATERIALS: foam rubber; shep leather and wool; resin eyes; adhesive; acrylic paint
Fasnacht is what the Swiss call Carnival. In many towns in Austria, southern Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy, local folk don elaborate masks and costumes to parade through the town. Different towns have variations on the parade, such as the Schemenlaufen of Imst, the Schellerlaufen of Nassereith, and the Muller and Matschgerer of Innsbruck, Austria.
In Lucerne (Luzern), Switzerland, masks made of paper maché or, more commonly today, plastic, and usually take a helmet form. Armies of costumed clowns, musicians, and dancers parade around town in uniform mask styles during the Carnival season. Some throw confetti at crowd members and others distribute candy for children.
There is a great deal of innovation and creativity in mask styles. Each group tends to wear similar masks, based on a theme chosen for that year’s Fasnacht. Because these themes change annually, masks are rarely worn more than once.
This mask was worn by the maker in 2023 as part of a group having a monkey warrior theme that year.
