Since the Stone Age, masks have been used for various religious, cultural and festive events. The two primary purposes of masks have always been to disguise and to protect. In some cultures masks are representations of spirits who temporarily possess the bodies of their wearers in order to carry out a specific task during a ritual or ceremony.
The Greek comedy and tragedy masks are among the most recognizable masks in history. The ancient Greek actors wore the masks on stage to honor the mythological character they were portraying and to enhance the dramatic effect of a scene.
The gas mask was invented in 1874. Initially, it was worn by firemen and sea divers. In 1914, it was used by soldiers during World War I.
Donning a mask was the way of life during the Venetian Republic. Venice, Italy, was a small, wealthy town steeped in extravagance and baptized in an egalitarian spirit. All citizens from high officials to servants wore masks to conceal their identity and ensure fair treatment.
In 1959, Montreal Canadien's goalie Jacques Plante handcrafted his own mask after suffering a blow to the face during a game against the New York Rangers. The iconic hockey mask was born.