I read somewhere that there was a period in the 18th century when Venetians started wearing Carnival masks year round (ie, not just during Carnival). I can't f

I read somewhere that there was a period in the 18th century when Venetians started wearing Carnival masks year round (ie, not just during Carnival). I can't find my original source, but Wikipedia offers something along similar lines: "It tends to be the main type of mask worn during the Carnival. It was used also on many other occasions as a device for hiding the wearer's identity and social status. It would permit the wearer to act more freely in cases where he or she wanted to interact with other members of the society outside the bounds of identity and everyday convention." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Venice#Bauta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Venice#Bauta)