Tartaglia Commedia dell’Arte Mask - Bulboso

£75.00

TARTAGLIA - CHARACTER TRAITS

  • Servant character with distinctive stuttering speech pattern.
  • Intelligent and quick-minded despite communication difficulties.
  • Frustrated by his inability to express himself clearly.
  • Often misunderstood, leading to comic confusion and mishaps.
  • Resourceful problem-solver when given time to communicate.

PRODUCT FEATURES

  • Durable and lightweight Tartaglia Commedia dell’Arte mask.
  • Made from high-impact thermoplastic for long-lasting use.
  • Hand-painted to a professional performance standard finish.
  • Includes black elastic strap and foam pads for comfortable fit.
  • Suitable for both professional and student use.
  • Made to order in the UK. Ships worldwide in 20 working days.

ABOUT OUR COMMEDIA MASKS

Rooted in the vibrant tradition of Italian street theatre, our Commedia dell'Arte masks are made from high-impact plastic, making them durable, lightweight, and comfortable to wear. Each mask represents a classic stock character and is designed to provoke the exaggerated physicality and emotional expression that brings Commedia characters to life.

These masks are ideal for performance and invaluable tools for workshops and actor training.

THE TARTAGLIA CHARACTER IN COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE

Tartaglia is a civil servant of sorts—often a judge, clerk, notary, or low-level bureaucrat—whose defining feature is his stutter, which fluctuates with emotion. He works hard to appear serious, intelligent, and orderly, yet his speech betrays him, creating moments of comedic tension, frustration, or unexpected brilliance. Beneath his awkwardness lies sensitivity, pride, and occasionally surprising wisdom. Tartaglia stands at the edge between official authority and personal insecurity, making him a uniquely sympathetic comic figure.

TARTAGLIA’S RELATIONSHIPS AND MOTIVATIONS

Tartaglia commonly interacts with Il Dottore and Pantalone, often attempting to assert his competence among men who overlook or belittle him. He may serve as a witness in legal disputes, an overworked functionary, or a bureaucrat trying desperately to keep order amidst chaos. Tartaglia is sometimes a romantic figure as well: earnest, shy, and easily flustered when confronted with affection. His motivations are simple—respect, stability, and dignity—but the world of Commedia rarely grants him these luxuries without struggle.

TARTAGLIA IN PERFORMANCE: VOICE AND PHYSICALITY

In performance, Tartaglia’s body is held stiffly and properly, as though he is always trying to maintain composure. His gestures may begin smoothly but suddenly break or jerk when the stutter interrupts him. The voice is central: phrases flow, halt, repeat, and resolve in rhythmic patterns that build anticipation and laughter. Emotional shifts—embarrassment, pride, confusion, or determination—can be visible in his posture as he gathers himself before speaking again. Tartaglia’s strength lies in his ability to make hesitation expressive, shaping silence and interruption into comedic poetry.

Mask Care & Maintenance - Commedia dell'Arte Masks

Securing the Elastic

Each mask is supplied with a length of black elastic. Tie the elastic firmly for a secure fit, using a double knot to prevent it from pulling through the hole unexpectedly.

Putting the Mask On

To avoid straining the mask, place it gently over your face first, then pull the elastic over your head. This prevents the mask from being forced apart which can weaken or damage it over time.

Cleaning the Mask

Use alcohol-free wipes to clean the mask between uses. Do not use alcohol-based wipes, as they will quickly damage the glaze and paint finish.

Styling Eyebrows & Moustaches

Eyebrows and moustaches can be ‘restyled’ with a hair dryer or by being slightly moistened and left to dry in position.

Mask Storage

Store your mask in the supplied bag to protect it from dust and abrasion. Avoid leaving masks in direct sunlight for extended periods, as this can fade colours and weaken the paint finish.

Adjusting the Foam

The internal foam is shaped to suit a ‘generic’ face. If you need extra padding, you can add your own using a glue gun—apply glue to the foam, then press it into place. If the existing foam feels too thick, trim it carefully with nail scissors to achieve a comfortable fit.

What to Avoid

  • Harsh chemical cleaners
  • Contact with sharp edges
  • Exposure to heat sources
  • Prolonged direct sunlight

Shipping & Delivery

Shipping Policy

Our products are handmade to order. All orders are processed and shipped within 20 working days of receipt of payment (30 working days for orders containing leather masks and puppets). Orders will only begin to be processed once full payment has been received.

When you have placed an order you will receive an email confirmation of receipt of your order and payment.

When your order has shipped, you will receive an email notification from UPS which will include a tracking number you can use to check its status. Please allow 24 hours for the tracking information to become available.

Shipping Charges

Shipping charges for your order will be calculated and displayed at the checkout page of our online shop.

Delivery to UK Addresses

Orders dispatched to UK addresses will be sent via UPS which aims to deliver in one to two working days. All orders are tracked end-to-end and require a signature upon delivery.

Delivery to EU Addresses

We ship to all EU countries on a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) basis. This means all import taxes and duties are included in the price you pay at checkout — there will be no additional charges upon delivery. Orders are sent via UPS and typically arrive within 3-5 working days after dispatch. All orders are tracked end-to-end and require a signature upon delivery.

International Shipping (Rest of World)

We ship our masks to destinations all over the world. However, we currently do not ship to: Afghanistan, Dominica, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Moldova, Russia, Belarus, Somalia, South Sudan, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Syria, Ukraine, Ukraine-Crimea region, Venezuela, Yemen.

Please note: Orders shipped to destinations outside the UK and EU may be subject to import duties and taxes (including VAT), which are incurred once a shipment reaches your destination country. Strangeface Masks is not responsible for these charges if they are applied and are your responsibility as the customer.

Shipping with Freight Forwarder

VAT can be reclaimed directly from the appropriate authority or refunded upon receipt of official documentary evidence that these specific goods have been shipped to their final destination outside the VAT zone within three months of dispatch from our workshop. Documentary evidence needs to include your invoice number and our company name 'Strangeface Masks'. Unfortunately we will not be able to refund VAT unless these criteria are fulfilled.

Shipping to P.O. Boxes

We regret that we currently are not able to ship to P.O. Boxes. Please provide an alternative shipping address.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at mail@strangefacemasks.com

Returns & Exchanges

Returns

We offer a 14-day returns policy. You have 14 days after receiving your item to request a return.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be:

  • unused and undamaged;
  • returned in its original packaging where possible;
  • accompanied by proof of purchase, such as your receipt or delivery documentation.

Because many of our products are handmade to order, slight variations in finish and appearance are part of the nature of the work and do not constitute defects.

Please contact us before returning any item. Items sent back without prior approval may not be accepted.

To request a return, please contact:
mail@strangefacemasks.com

Approved returns should be sent to:

Strangeface Masks
2a Speldhurst Road
Southborough
Kent
TN4 0DP
United Kingdom

Refunds will only be issued to the original payment method used for the purchase.

The cost of returning items is the responsibility of the customer unless the item is faulty, damaged or incorrect.

EU customers retain all statutory cancellation rights under applicable consumer protection laws.

Damaged, Faulty or Incorrect Items

Please inspect your order upon arrival and contact us promptly if your item is:

  • damaged;
  • faulty;
  • incorrect.

If possible, please include photographs so that we can assess the issue and determine the best solution.

Where an item is confirmed to be faulty, damaged or incorrect, we will offer either:

  • a replacement;
  • a repair;
  • or a refund,

in accordance with your statutory rights.

We cannot offer refunds or replacements for damage resulting from:

  • normal wear and tear;
  • accidental damage;
  • misuse;
  • improper storage or handling.

Refunds

Once your return has been approved and received, refunds will be issued to your original payment method within 14 days.

For cancelled orders within the EU cooling-off period, we will refund the standard original delivery cost. Any import taxes and duties collected at checkout will be refunded where recoverable or where required by law. Return shipping costs are non-refundable unless required by law.

Please allow additional processing time for your bank or card provider to process the refund.

If more than 14 days have passed since we received your returned item and you have not received your refund, please contact:
mail@strangefacemasks.com

This policy is provided in addition to and does not affect your statutory rights.

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