During the research for my last post I came across numerous examples of cultural artifacts plundered from around the world, and now on display or the vaults of museums who should know better. Yes, a lot of cultural artifacts should, long have been returned to their countries of origin. Not just masks are involved, but almost every conceivable type of human-made object imaginable.
Ilama Gold Mask - Colombia
Original text from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2021)
“Lifesize hammered masks are the largest objects produced in
gold in the ancient Americas. While most masks were presumably made as burial
offerings, this example, with its pierced eyes, cutout mouth, and additional
holes for tying at the sides, could have been worn by an individual during life
in a ritual or ceremony before being placed with his material wealth in a tomb.
The mask comes from the Calima River region in southwestern Colombia, where
abundant alluvial gold deposits prompted a distinguished goldworking tradition
that lasted for at least 2,000 years. Hammered from a single sheet of metal of
high carat gold (its alloy contains 86 percent gold, 13 percent silver, and one
percent copper), Calima masks of the Ilama era are often flat, with generic
details of the human face. On this example, the features are individualized
with puffy bags beneath the eyes, a broad nose with flared nostrils, big,
round, bulging cheeks, and a fat-lipped open mouth.”
No information on how the mask was ‘obtained’ – of course(!)
and not even on display. A disgrace!
References
MET (2021). Funerary Mask. 5th–1st century B.C. At: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/316699
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