$MASKS

One traditional mask from Iranian culture is the "Kheyme Shab Bazi" puppet mask, used in an ancient form of Persian puppetry. This type of mask is primarily associated with the performance of the Kheyme Shab Bazi, a kind of folk puppet theater that has been popular in Iran for centuries, particularly during the Qajar era (1789–1925).

In these performances, puppeteers use wooden puppets, often with exaggerated features, including masks. The masks are used to represent various stock characters, such as the heroic figure "Haji" or the mischievous "Mobarak," a humorous black-faced servant. Mobarak, in particular, wears a black mask and plays a trickster role, injecting comic relief into the performances. This style of puppetry and its masks have roots in Persian folk traditions, blending humor, satire, and social commentary.

Although these masks are more symbolic and performative than those used in religious or tribal rituals, they are an essential part of Iran's folk art heritage.