Wide view of Venice: Piazza San Marco - Riva degli Schiavoni

The Bauta as a way to hide the identity

Gambling and not only that

In a way, the Bauta was some kind of a social leveler: all ages, all social statuses could get together, all of them wearing a mask and concealing their true identity.

It doesn't need to be taken out to drink or eat because of the wide open bottom, and it is usually held in place by the Tricorno hat.

It was mandatory all year long for women who went to the theater and forbidden to girls waiting to be married.

Light and "comfortable", because of the narrow nose, the mask sort of modifies the voice pitch, and of course romantic encounters were a lot simplified, this way …

It is the more known / traditional / diffused Venetian mask, old women loved it (easy to guess why …) and it was even too often much used and abused.

It became a bad habit, though, along with its diffusion, and it was said that “not even the honest father may recognize his naughty daughter with a tabarro and bauta” and it can hide well one’s identity, what definitely was important in the case of … “adventures”.

Modern example of the Bauta mask
Old bauta - Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia
Modern example of the Bauta mask
Modern example of the Bauta mask

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