Customer Reviews

The Traditional Art of the Mask: Carving a Transformation Mask

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This book is a real treasure. It provides clear color photographs of the step by step process of a master carving a mask of an ancient, endangered tradition.

The book is not written for beginners; the reader is assumed to understand the cuts from the photographs, so there are not detailed explanations about how to carve. The shaping is done with an adze, with no word on how to use one. I have never used this tool, so for the time being, I will stick with my chisels. But I may try out an adze. It looks interesting.

Even people who are not woodcarvers will enjoy this book, for its rare look into this fascinating art. My only complaint is that the binding of the paperback is not very good. The cover started falling off the second time I opened the book. I hope the book lasts, because this is one I will want to refer to and enjoy again and again.