Half face mask

the nose have it

Almost every commedia character wore a different mask. Though originally a full black mask made of wood or leather, the bottom would soon be removed as Zanni’s role as the comedic jester moved from physical mime to also include jokes. While Zanni could be cunning and mischievous, the role was most widely known for playing the fool. A good indicator was the length of the mask’s nose — the longer the appendage, the more dopey the performance. Zanni would often also wear a false beard.