Lion Mask
Unknown Artist
early 12th century
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
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...