Haggardly Wicked Witch - Emerick's face mask (1940s-50s)

This eerie Haggardly Wicked Witch mask, produced by Emerick in the late 1940s–50s, is a prime example of mid-century novelty art that captured the darker side of childhood imagination. With her long stringy white hair, sunken eyes, hooked nose, and wicked grin revealing a solitary tooth, she is the embodiment of the fairy-tale crone — part nursery-rhyme menace, part Halloween horror.

Emerick, an established novelty and paper goods maker, was active in the mid-20th century and became known for its vividly lithographed party masks. Their designs drew heavily on archetypes familiar to children: pirates, clowns, goblins, and witches. This witch mask fits squarely into that tradition, offering an affordable thrill for birthday parties, school plays, and Halloween festivities.

Date: 1940s–50s

Maker: Emerick (marked on mask)

Character: Wicked Witch / Hag

Material: Litho-printed card stock

Size: 7 ½ inches by 10 inches

Condition: Original vintage mask; expected light wear for its age