Red Ceramic Apotropaic Mask, Gennaro Condurso, Italy

An expressive ceramic wall mask from Seminara, the renowned ceramic village in Calabria, made by Gennaro Condurso, a member of a ceramic family that has been producing traditional pottery for generations.

Dimensions: height 22 cm, width 15 cm, depth 7 cm.

This mask is entirely hand-shaped and glazed in intense shades of red, combined with deep black accents and softer pink nuances. The glossy glaze enhances the dramatic expression of the face and gives the piece a powerful, almost theatrical presence.

The open mouth, hollow eyes, pronounced nose, protruding tongue and multiple curved horn-like forms create a dynamic, almost devilish character. Through its rough modelling, visible hand-shaped surface and spontaneous touches of colour, the mask feels folkloric, ritualistic and artistic at the same time.

Such masks are known in Southern Italy as maschere apotropaiche: protective masks traditionally hung on houses to ward off evil, misfortune or the evil eye. They belong to an old folk tradition in which ceramics, symbolism and decoration come together.

The back is signed by the artist and fitted with a hanging opening, making it easy to place on the wall.

Today, this mask is a striking decorative wall object: powerful, playful and highly expressive. Beautiful as an accent among ceramics, folk art, wabi-sabi objects or contemporary art.