mask
Mongolia. Large face mask with skulls on top. Skull earrings. Red and green with gold designs with third eye and fangs.
- Object: mask
- Artist: -
- Circa: -
- Dimensions: H 28" X W 20"
- Culture Area: Asia
- Cultural Group: Mongolia
- Cultural Context: This mask depicts Jamsran, the god of war. It is the task of Jamsran to sacrifice those human beings who do not keep their vows. Jamsran is a traditional mask to be worn during the Tsam ceremony, held at the beginning of each year to exorcise evil. It consists of a series of masked dances and often had a narrative content. Among the southern Mongol tribes, the annual dance seems to have been adopted during the second half of the eighteenth century. Mongolian masks symbolize the actual presence of a deity and as the temporary residence of gods and demons, masks are treated as sacred objects. When not in use they were stored in monasteries and paid homage to in daily rituals.
- Donor: Elizabeth Richardson (mother), Maury & Resa Dance
- Catalog #: 115.149