The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. The festival is world famous for its elaborate masks. The Carnival ends forty days before Easter, the day before Ash Wednesday.
Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition of Venice, Italy. The masks are typically worn during the Carnival (Carnival of Venice), but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer’s identity and social status.
Apparently, the Venice Festival started in the year 1162 and it became official in the Renaissance period. During the 17th century, the baroque carnival was a way to save the glorious image of Venice worldwide. However, under the rule of the King of Austria, the Venice Carnival was outlawed completely and the use of masks became strictly forbidden during that time.
Venetian Masks can be made of leather, porcelain, papier-mache or with the original glass technique. Since antiquity genuine Venetian Masks were, and still are, created and decorated by hand. Each of them is a unique separate work of art.
