Is it Real? Is it Fake? The Saga of Kanye West's Alexander McQueen Dante Mask, Explained

Where Is the Mask From?

The black eye mask featuring a metal crucifix painted white between the eyes first appeared in the Alexander McQueen Fall 1996 runway show titled "Dante." Seven looks incorporated the religious accessory. They were created by Simon Costin for Alexander McQueen. According to a listing for the mask on Kerry Taylor Auctions, it was inspired by photographer Joel-Peter Witkin's Journeys of the Mask: Helena Fourment.

"Dante" took place at a candle-lit Christ Church in Spitalfields, London. Death, blasphemy, and religion were some of the main themes conveyed by the show. Some models wore heads of antlers or crowns of thorns. The runway was even shaped like a crucifix.

How Did Kanye Get One?

While it isn't clear exactly how the mask got into the hands of Kanye West, it has been confirmed this particular mask was initially acquired through Kerry Taylor Auctions, an auction house that specializes in vintage fashion and antique costumes. The Dante mask in question was listed up for auction in June 2023 and sold for £12,000 (app. $15,000). While it was not revealed who purchased the mask because auction winners are not disclosed to the public, Kerry Taylor's official Instagram page did comment on a post by @pechuga_vintage stating, "We can confirm Ye's is genuine, as we know who bought it..." Costin commented on a post from London-based vintage store Nordic Poetry to clarify that Kanye does not own the mask. It was a rental.

Where Did Kanye Wear It?

Kanye was first seen wearing the mask during his time in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. First, he was attending Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium and later that night held his Vultures 1 listening party. After Kanye posted a photo of himself on his Instagram page, its authenticity was called into question when Costin commented, "This is NOT an original mask, I didn't make it."

Why Did People Think It Was Fake?

The authenticity of the mask was further questioned after Byronesque, a company who helps source vintage fashion pieces, posted on its Instagram defending Costin and proclaiming Kanye's Dante a fake. The now-deleted post detailed how Byronesque sourced an original Dante mask from Costin in September 2023 for Kanye. The rapper's team offered "significantly less than the value of such a rare and special collector's item" and the purchase was never finalized. The post concluded stating, "Contrary to Ye's Instagram posts and many news reports and based on differences in intricate design detail, Simon Costin has confirmed that the mask worn by Ye is a recreation, is not authentic and should not be credited as such."