Philippine Taka Papier-Mâché Skull Mold

Circa 1920s,  Hand-carved hardwood skull mold (takaan) from Paete, Laguna, Philippines, used in the traditional taka papier-mâché craft.  A rare and sculpturally striking hand-carved hardwood skull mold (takaan) from the village of Paete, Laguna, Philippines, used in the traditional folk craft of taka* — the layering of wet paper pulp over a carved wooden master to produce brightly painted papier-mâché figures, toys, and ornaments. The taka tradition was founded in Paete in the 1920s by Maria Bañas (Bague) and remains a living craft today, though early studio molds like this example are increasingly scarce on the international market.  Dimensions Skull: 8 inches H; taller on custom iron base:  Provenance: Daniel Acosta NY, NY.

The skull is carved in the round on its working face, with a smoothly domed cranium, deeply hollowed circular eye sockets, a triangular nasal cavity, and crisply gridded upper and lower dentition designed for clean release from the papier-mâché shell. The reverse is left plain and gently contoured, pierced by a small bored vent hole that allowed moisture to escape and the finished pulp form to be released from the master. The wood has acquired a deep, oily, glossy patina from decades of contact with wet paper pulp, starch paste, and release agents — a surface impossible to fabricate and entirely consistent with long studio use.

Attributed to the workshops of Paete, Laguna — the historic center of Philippine woodcarving and the birthplace of the taka papier-mâché industry in the 1920s. Comparable hand-carved Filipino skull molds appear in the secondary decorative-arts market, confirming that calavera-form takaan were part of the Paete carvers' repertoire.

Excellent  condition with expected age. Deep handled patina, minor surface checking, age cracks to the cranium, and small natural losses consistent with age and ritual studio use. Mounted on a custom black metal display stand for stable upright presentation.