Striking and strange, this mask by Bob Basset epitomizes the Dieselpunk sub-genre. Darker and grittier than Steampunk, expect more of this intriguing style.
Dieselpunk Leather Art Mask
It’s little bit darker and grittier, fueled by the industrial age and the looming threat of World War II, and it captures the last taste of old-world ingenuity before the dawn of the modern age. Dieselpunk is like the shadier younger brother of the Steampunk style that we all know and love.
Dieselpunk style is characterized by a combination of classic Art-Deco with the instruments of war. One of the more popular examples of this sub-genre in the mainstream was in the movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. For a great introduction to the world of this Steampunk derivative, have a look at another mask culled straight from the studios of Bob Basset, whose other designs have included this creepy E.T. mask and this fantasy handbag.
The full-leather mask, which covers the face completely, is reminiscent of a pilot’s gear from the 1940s. Both goggles and a face-mask, meant to hint at the mask’s possible use as a screening or breathing apparatus, add to the wartime feel of the design. And if that wasn’t enough to give you the sense of Dieselpunk pilot, the brass plating that makes up the face goggles of the design branches off to the side into a distinctive “wing” pattern.
While an expensive addition to your wardrobe, priced at $600, this mask could be a great introduction to building your own Steampunk or Dieselpunk style. Not surprisingly, the mask is being marketed by the studio as a Steampunk “gas mask” as well as a Dieselpunk item.
For a more traditional Victorian look the mask could be dressed down with a classic gentlemanly suit. To bring it up into the Dieselpunk era, the mask could be paired with anything from a military uniform to the classic “pilot’s” get-up. Imagine how menacing, dark, and all-around bad the piece would look paired with corduroys, boots, and a bomber jacket?
With the growing popularity of big brother, it’s not hard to guess that Diesel-punk, and many of the other Steampunk sub-genres, will soon begin to creep even more firmly into the mainstream. It’s going to great to see what new styles will develop as a part of this growing trend.
Via: Bob Basset Archives
