What if instead of that, you get an item flagged (replica) that identifies the same way, but can't actually be used. If you try to wear, wield, quaff, drink, eat, etc it would just say "The mask of anazu you are holding is a replica"

There would also be several aspects you wouldn't know:

Activations, etc. So the secretest parts would still remain unknown, though something like contact other planes would still work right.

Value. The gold value would be 0

Level. The level would be 0

Maybe that would appease those who would want some mystery to remain?