mask
Face mask with multicolored head piece.
- Object: mask
- Artist: -
- Circa: -
- Dimensions: 12'L x 9"W x 3.25"H
- Culture Area: Asia
- Cultural Group: China
- Cultural Context: This is a Chinese ground opera mask also referred to as Dixi Drama, and called ‘Lianzi’ (meaning face in Chinese) by local people. It can be traced back to the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and it is a typical folk art of the Guizhou province. Originally ground opera was a sacrificial ceremony performed by the soldiers in Guizhou to entertain the gods and ask for victory in battle, though its popularity later spread and it became regular entertainment among the populace. The Dixi Masks are very refined and the number of masks used in one drama ranges from several dozen to two hundred. The masks consist of three parts, namely face, helmet, and ear, and most of the masks are made of clove or poplar wood. The colors of the masks usually indicate the characteristics of the characters. Generally speaking, red represents bravery, black is the symbol of firm and upright, blue means courageous and resolute, green indicates impulsive behavior and white represents the character is of soldierly bearing.
- Donor: Elizabeth Richardson (mother), Maury & Resa Dance
- Catalog #: 115.121