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Funerary mask
Calima
Early Yotoco period
AD 50-550
Object Place: Cauca and Calima River Valleys, Valle de Cauca Department, Colombia
Medium/Technique
Gold alloy
Dimensions
15.56 x 16.83 cm (6 1/8 x 6 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Lavinia and Landon T. Clay
Accession Number2004.2206
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsMasks
DescriptionHammered sheet gold burial mask. The Calima culture of Colombia's southern highlands is renown for its outstanding gold artworks. The region's rivers were rich in placer gold, and the Calima people were famous for their sumptuous use of nearly pure gold objects as personal adornments. This life-like mask, made from hammered sheet gold, likely was tied onto a mummy bundle and served as the face of the deceased.
Provenance1975, acquired in Europe by Alphonse Jax (dealer), New York; February 28, 1975, sold by Jax to Landon T. and Lavinia Clay, Boston; 2004, year-end gift of Landon T. and Lavinia Clay to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 23, 2005)