Congratulations on your new home :)
I have searched and searched for you but can find no reference to metal masks.
The closest I can come up with is the Native American Spirit Masks.
Hanging home made faces or items around the house to ward off bad spirits is a very common practice in many cultures. The Natives have their Spirit Masks, Pennsylvanian Dutch have their painted Hex designs, carved wooden masks are popular in Bali it seems and the europeans can have Witch Balls (old glass fishing floats filled with all manner of things)
I would suggest that the house you saw had some people of whichever culture that liked these things and they made them themselves.
It's a lovely practice (I myself have Witch Balls hung in various places around my house and garden) and works much better if you make the things yourself.
The thinking behind the masks is that the evil spirits will be afraid of the face (which is why so many of these masks are quite frightening looking)
The thinking behind the Hex signs and the witch balls is that the item does the protecting due to the design (hex signs) or contents and intent of the maker of the witch balls.
Good luck, you may be able to find masks in some craft shops in your area, or comission someone to make you some if you so wish. :)
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