Modern Mexican Aztec Burial Mask

Between 1300 and 1521, the Aztecs carved burial masks out of wood, stone, papier mache, bone, or clay: decorative ornaments that represented Aztec deities. The Aztecs had a variety of religious practices involving death and burial practices. In Aztec cosmology, death was viewed as a journey to another realm of existence. A mask was a transformative tool, worn during ceremonies that were said to give priests the power to embody the deity it represented.

Measuring 8" tall and 6" wide, this modern recreation takes us into the life of pre-Colombian Mesoamericans, and serves as a unique centerpiece for those fascinated by Aztec history.