Lion Mask

Unknown Artist

early 12th century

Lion Mask by Unknown Artist

Medium

Terracotta

Dimensions

2 x 2 in. (5.1 x 5.1 cm)

Classification

Sculpture

Culture

Central Asia

Department

Asian Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Rogers Fund, 1930

Accession Number

30.32.65

Tags

MasksLions

Art Historical Context

This small terracotta lion mask, created in Central Asia during the early th century, offers a into the region’s richural traditions. Measuring just two inches square, the piece likely served as an architectural ornament or decorative fitting, perhaps adorning a palace, temple, or civic building. Terracotta’s durability and ease molding made it a favored across Central Asia, artisans to produce intricate details that could withstand time and weather. The lion motif carries deep symbolic weight in many Central Asian cultures, often representing strength, protection, and royal authority. Such m...

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