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alb3600205

War Mask

War Mask. Culture: Mongolian or Tibetan. Dimensions: 6 ½ x 5 ¾ in. (16.5 x 14.6 cm). Thickness: Cheeks between 1.3-1.5mm on both cheeks. Center of forehead, 1.7mm Tip of nose, 1.2mm. Ridge of nose, 1.8mm The exposed ring was 1mm at all point checked. All other samples from around the face were about 1.5mm.. Date: 12th-14th century. Masks for use in ritual dances and other ceremonies are well known in Tibet and Mongolia, and were made from papier-mâché, leather, or gilt copper. This mask is exceptionally rare, however, because it was made of iron for use in battle, and is one of only two known masks of this type with distinctly Mongolian or Tibetan features. Bronze and silver war masks were used during the Roman Empire and in the Ancient Near East. Iron war masks dating from the 10th to 13th century are known from southern Ukraine and Russia, from Iran during the 13th century to the16th century, and Japan, where they were worn by Samurai warriors from the 15th to the 19th century. This example provides a unique Central Asian link in the use of war masks from the western steppes of Europe to the eastern edges of Asia.
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Title:
War Mask
Caption:
War Mask. Culture: Mongolian or Tibetan. Dimensions: 6 ½ x 5 ¾ in. (16.5 x 14.6 cm). Thickness: Cheeks between 1.3-1.5mm on both cheeks. Center of forehead, 1.7mm Tip of nose, 1.2mm. Ridge of nose, 1.8mm The exposed ring was 1mm at all point checked. All other samples from around the face were about 1.5mm.. Date: 12th-14th century. Masks for use in ritual dances and other ceremonies are well known in Tibet and Mongolia, and were made from papier-mâché, leather, or gilt copper. This mask is exceptionally rare, however, because it was made of iron for use in battle, and is one of only two known masks of this type with distinctly Mongolian or Tibetan features. Bronze and silver war masks were used during the Roman Empire and in the Ancient Near East. Iron war masks dating from the 10th to 13th century are known from southern Ukraine and Russia, from Iran during the 13th century to the16th century, and Japan, where they were worn by Samurai warriors from the 15th to the 19th century. This example provides a unique Central Asian link in the use of war masks from the western steppes of Europe to the eastern edges of Asia.
Technique/material:
Iron, copper alloy
Museum:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Credit:
Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?
Image size:
4200 x 4192 px | 50.4 MB
Print size:
35.6 x 35.5 cm | 14.0 x 14.0 in (300 dpi)
Keywords: