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Arts of the Americas

False Head for Burial Bundle or Mummy Mask

Paracas Ocucaje

1 of 4

Object Label

The Oculate Being is depicted on this Paracas funerary mask, which was filled with cotton padding to give it a rounded appearance and was probably sewn to the outer wrapping of a mummy bundle. The mask also shows a pair of facing felines and double-headed serpents, creatures that represent power, perhaps to give the deceased potent attributes.

Caption

Paracas Ocucaje. False Head for Burial Bundle or Mummy Mask, 100 B.C.E. – 1 C.E.. Cotton, pigments, 13 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 3 in. (34.3 x 18.4 x 7.6 cm) warp (woven part): 9 13/16 in. (25 cm) unwoven warps, more than: 11 13/16 in. (30 cm) weft: 7 1/2 in. (19 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund, 41.428. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

False Head for Burial Bundle or Mummy Mask

Date

100 B.C.E. – 1 C.E.

Period

Paracas Ocucaje 10

Medium

Cotton, pigments

Classification

Masks

Dimensions

13 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 3 in. (34.3 x 18.4 x 7.6 cm) warp (woven part): 9 13/16 in. (25 cm) unwoven warps, more than: 11 13/16 in. (30 cm) weft: 7 1/2 in. (19 cm)

Credit Line

Henry L. Batterman Fund

Accession Number

41.428

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Artists and makers

Paracas Ocucaje

7 works in the collection