Nazca. <em>Mouth Mask</em>, 100-400 C.E. Hammered gold, A: 3 × 3 3/4 × 1/4 in. (7.6 × 9.5 × 0.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.110a-c. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.110a-c.jpg)

Nazca. Mouth Mask, 100-400 C.E. Hammered gold, A: 3 × 3 3/4 × 1/4 in. (7.6 × 9.5 × 0.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.110a-c. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.110a-c.jpg)

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Hi! How does one wear a mouth mask? I can't picture how it stays on.

This would have been suspended from the nose and covered the mouth. It would have been a symbol of high status in the Nasca culture of Peru, where this is from. The small linkage between the snakes is where it would have been suspended.

Ah. So a piercing between nostrils. Ouch! Perhaps the upper part bends to wrap the nose too.

Exactly! Nostril piercings are still popular today! As this Mouth Mask is made from fairly thin gold, it would not have been that heavy.

We have more examples of Peruvian goldwork upstairs if you'd like to see more large jewelry.

Mouth Mask

Arts of the Americas

CULTURE Nazca

MEDIUM Hammered gold

DATES 100-400 C.E.

PERIOD Early Nasca, Phases 2, 3, or 4

DIMENSIONS A: 3 × 3 3/4 × 1/4 in. (7.6 × 9.5 × 0.6 cm) B: 2 x 2 7/8 x 1/4 in. (5.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 cm) C: 2 x 3 x 3/16 in. (5.1 x 7.6 x 0.5 cm) Total weight: 13.37 g (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

ACCESSION NUMBER 86.224.110a-c

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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CAPTION Nazca. Mouth Mask, 100-400 C.E. Hammered gold, A: 3 × 3 3/4 × 1/4 in. (7.6 × 9.5 × 0.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.110a-c. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.110a-c.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 86.224.110a-c.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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