Vintage Guatemalan Mule Mask | Endurance & Persistence
Vintage Guatemalan Mule Mask | Endurance & Persistence
Couldn't load pickup availability
The From The Andes Priority Promise.
Eligible contiguous U.S. orders of $75+ receive complimentary USPS Priority Mail shipping.
The mule is not an ancient Maya symbol, but it belongs to the living world of Highland Guatemala: work, transport, persistence, and the ability to carry on. In that context, this Aj Canil Family mask has an immediately understandable meaning for a modern home: endurance when something difficult still has to be carried.
Hand-carved in Chichicastenango, the mask has a long equine snout, open mouth, and large block teeth. Dark green paint is covered with white and yellow dots and concentric motifs in purple, red, orange, and blue, while the raw interior retains visible carving marks and a natural-fiber hanging cord.
Details
Details
- Character: Mule
- Artist: AJ Canil Family
- Origin: Chichicastenango, Guatemala
- Material: Hand-carved wood with polychrome paint
- Date: Estimated late 20th century, approximately 1970s–1990s
- Condition: Excellent vintage condition with vibrant color and minor scuffs
- Symbolism: Endurance, persistence, and work
- Availability: One available
Superstition does not have to promise luck. Sometimes the symbol you keep close simply represents the determination to keep going.
Top FAQs Answered 🌟 frequently asked questions
Will I receive the exact item shown?
If a product is listed as one-of-one, vintage, a unique specimen, or the exact piece photographed, that is the piece you will receive. Repeatable apparel and multi-unit products may use representative photography and will match the purchased style, size, color, and listed specifications.
Are all your items handmade?
No. Many pieces are handmade, hand-knit, handwoven, carved, assembled, or produced in small quantities. Others are commercially produced. We state the material, construction, maker, origin, and technique on the individual product page when those facts are known.
Do you restock sold-out items?
Sometimes. Core apparel and repeatable merchandise may return when available. One-of-one, vintage, limited, and unusually sourced pieces often do not. If inventory says one, there may really be only one.
What determines the price of a piece?
We consider material, fiber content where applicable, construction, finishing, origin, workmanship, production quantity, condition, and the finished piece itself. Price makes sense only after you know what you are comparing.
What is your return policy?
All products may be returned within 30 calendar days after delivery. Merchandise must be unused, unworn, and in original condition. Contact info@fromtheandes.com to request a return. Approved U.S. returns include a prepaid return label paid by From The Andes. Eligible returns may receive a refund of the merchandise price, an exchange, or store credit, with no restocking fee. Approved refunds are initiated within 3 business days after inspection, and From The Andes pays outbound shipping on approved exchanges.
Returns require prior authorization and must meet the condition requirements in our Refund Policy.
Where does my order ship from, and how quickly?
Orders ship from Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, and typically leave within 1 business day. Orders placed after 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time typically ship the following business day. Orders placed on weekends or recognized holidays typically ship the next business day. Handling time is separate from carrier transit time. We use USPS or UPS and provide tracking. USPS currently publishes a 2–3 business day service objective for Priority Mail after USPS accepts the shipment; Priority Mail delivery is not guaranteed.
Where do you ship?
We ship to eligible addresses within the United States and supported U.S. territories, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, supported U.S. territories and possessions, and eligible APO, FPO, and DPO addresses. Orders of $75 or more shipping to an eligible address in the contiguous United States receive complimentary USPS Priority Mail shipping. Orders of $75 or more shipping to an eligible address in the contiguous United States receive complimentary USPS Priority Mail shipping. Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and eligible APO, FPO, and DPO addresses are charged the available USPS rate shown at checkout.