Labour behind making a Venetian mask.

Venice’s annual carnival festivities get under way on Saturday. The two-week bout of merrymaking and revellery is an excellent showcase for craftsmen of the city, who have been making masks for the event for centuries. Behind the mask is a labour of love. A real Venetian mask, begins with a clay sculpture. A 3-D base for a mold in plaster, which in turn is coated with paper mache. In his workshop, Gualtiero Dall’ Osto uses techniques which date back to the 15th century.