Masks - Venice: A Travel Guide to Murano Glass, Carnival Masks, Gondolas, Lace, Paper and More - page 48

Today, it is nearly impossible to find a street in Venice without at least one shop selling
masks. At Carnival time, several private balls including the exclusive Ballo del Doge cater
to dignitaries who want to recreate the magic of Venetian Carnival, including the wearing
of traditional masks. The Venetian Carnival attracts hordes of international visitors, and the
tradition of mask making continues in part thanks to today's lively Venetian tourist trade.
How Venetian Masks Are Made
Early Venetian mascareri used a variety of materials, from waxed cloth to canvas, velvet,
lace, leather, and papier-mâché. Today, a few mask makers craft masks using leather, glass,
and even ceramic. However, the mask makers adhering most closely to authentic, tradition-
al Venetian mask types work primarily in papier-mâché.
Today, most traditional masks begin with a clay form that may be used to make a plaster
cast. The clay or plaster model may be used again and again to form the basic mask, even
though no two masks end up looking exactly the same. The mascarer presses wet paper
pulp over the clay form, then leaves it to air-dry. Once dry, the paper will retain the shape of