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This rare mask incarnates a supernatural being who may have been the patron of an early fertility cult on Peru’s south coast. Its traits insinuate power, especially the stuck-out tongue and the serpents that slither over the face to form a halo-like corona. Unexplained are the shape of the nose and the small figure wearing a similar mask. The mask could have served as the face of a mummy bundle or an object; the projecting eyes might rule out use by a living performer.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
7c7f8428885275ca
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
162912
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "162912",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Oculate Being Mask",
    "description": "This rare mask incarnates a supernatural being who may have been the patron of an early fertility cult on Peru’s south coast. Its traits insinuate power, especially the stuck-out tongue and the serpents that slither over the face to form a halo-like corona. Unexplained are the shape of the nose and the small figure wearing a similar mask. The mask could have served as the face of a mummy bundle or an object; the projecting eyes might rule out use by a living performer.",
    "date": "300 BCE–1 CE (thermoluminescence date, 835 BC–185 CE)",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.39",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60759461"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ceramic"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 23.6 x 22.5 x 13.2 cm (9 5/16 x 8 7/8 x 5 3/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Peru, South Coast, Paracas (Cavernas) style (700 BCE–1 CE)"
    ],
    "accession": "2003.39"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "162912",
    "label": "Oculate Being Mask",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "162912",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Oculate Being Mask",
    "description": "This rare mask incarnates a supernatural being who may have been the patron of an early fertility cult on Peru’s south coast. Its traits insinuate power, especially the stuck-out tongue and the serpents that slither over the face to form a halo-like corona. Unexplained are the shape of the nose and the small figure wearing a similar mask. The mask could have served as the face of a mummy bundle or an object; the projecting eyes might rule out use by a living performer.",
    "date": "300 BCE–1 CE (thermoluminescence date, 835 BC–185 CE)",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.39",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60759461"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ceramic"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 23.6 x 22.5 x 13.2 cm (9 5/16 x 8 7/8 x 5 3/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Peru, South Coast, Paracas (Cavernas) style (700 BCE–1 CE)"
    ],
    "accession": "2003.39"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "ceramic, resin-based paint",
    "tombstone": "Oculate Being Mask, 300 BCE–1 CE (thermoluminescence date, 835 BC–185 CE). Peru, South Coast, Paracas (Cavernas) style (700 BCE–1 CE). Ceramic, resin-based paint; overall: 23.6 x 22.5 x 13.2 cm (9 5/16 x 8 7/8 x 5 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 2003.39",
    "collection": "AA - Andes",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Bergh, Susan E., \"Ancient Eyes\", Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em>. Vol. 44 no. 06, Summer 2004",
            "page_number": "Mentioned & reproduced: p. 8-9",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/CMAMM2004-06/page/n7"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em>. Vol. 53 no. 03, May/June 2013",
            "page_number": "Mentioned and reproduced: p. 10",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/CMAMM2013-03/page/10"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.39",
    "creditline": "Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 08:28:03.226000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 162912,
    "dept": "Art of the Americas",
    "coll": "AA - Andes",
    "med": "ceramic, resin-based paint",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.39/2003.39_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "7c7f8428885275ca"
}