Unique Ceramic Apotropaic Mask, Gennaro Condurso, Italy

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

Dimensions: height 21 cm, width 16 cm, depth 7 cm.

This mask is entirely handmade and glazed in warm, fiery tones. Ochre yellow, amber, reddish brown, wine red, soft pink and cream flow vividly across the surface, with a bright red tongue as a striking accent. The curved horns, open mouth, hollow eyes, pronounced nose and rough modelling give the piece an intense, almost demonic presence.

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 reverse is signed by the artist and has a hanging opening, making it easy to place on the wall.

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