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Source 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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
162912
label
Oculate Being Mask
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
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
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60759461
genreSpecific
Ceramic
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
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
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
creditline
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:28:03.226000
sourceId
162912
dept
Art of the Americas
coll
AA - Andes
med
ceramic, resin-based paint
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
7c7f8428885275ca