What is Pulcinella mask ? What was it used for in history ?
Pulcinella, one of the most popular ancient masks, is the mask of Naples.
Already known in Roman times and disappeared with the arrival of Christianity, the Pulcinella mask was resurrected in the 1500s with the Commedia dell’Arte and has since been one of the most popular carnival masks together with Harlequin.
Pulcinella is lazy, ironic, opportunistic, cheeky and talkative. He has an insatiable voracity and is always looking for food.
For a plate of macaroni he is willing to do anything: steal, lie, cheat and take a beating.
Pulcinella is of few words, a bit clumsy, but always on the move, looking for ways to escape the prevarication and greed of the rich and powerful.
The color of his costume - trousers and a wide shirt - is white, with a black mask with a long, hooked nose and a white hat made of white cloth.
The name of Pulcinella probably derives from the Neapolitan “pollicino”, which means chick, and refers to the timbre of his voice.