Illustrations of Artifact Categories Subject to U.S. Import Restriction
Bolivia - Chiriguanian Ritual Mask
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Chiriguanian Ritual Mask
Type of Object: Mask
Materials: Wood, pigments made out of human bones
Measurements: Size varies from 40 cm. to 80 cm.
Date or Period: Colonial (1533-1825)
Maker: Chiriguano
Designated List Section: I Colonial and Republican Masks
Date of Import Restriction: 12/07/01
Photograph: National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore (MUSEF)
Copyright: National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore (MUSEF)
 
Description of Designated List Category Subject to Import Restrictions:
These masks are constructed of wood, leather or skins, silver, tin, cloth, glass beads, oil painted plaster, fur, feathers, or some combination of these materials, with the intent of exaggerating the facial features, particularly the eyes and mouth, of the personage or animal in the dance. Common themes include the devil with horns, old men (Awki), African faces (Moreno), blonde haired/blue eyed men with bullet holes in their foreheads (Chunchus), angels, heroines (China Supay), and animals. Size varies according to the mask. Some are as small as 40 cm. or as large as 170 cm.

All masks produced until 1900 that are associated with the Christian or Indigenous dance rituals of the Colonial and Republican Period are included. Some of these masks may also occur in archaeological contexts. These include but are not limited to masks of the following dances: Dance of La Diablada, Dance of La Morenada, Dance of Kullawada, Dance of La Llamerada, Dance of the Chunchus, Chutas Dance, Kusillos Dance, Chiriguano Dance, Dance of the Inca, Dance of the Chunchos, Dance of the Achus, Dance of St. Ignatius of Moxos, Dance of the Little Angels, Moors and Christians Dance, Dance of the Sun and the Moon, Dance of the Little Bull, Dance of the Jucumari, Chiriguano Ritual, Dance of the Auqui, Dancer Ritual, Dance of the Misti'I Siku, Dance of the Little Bull, Dance of the Tundiquis, Dance of the Paqochis.

This example of an anthropomorphic mask is used in magic-religious ceremonies and rituals. It's white color is prepared with the human bones that have been burned. The mask has an edge on top that represents a deer.
Keywords:
Chiriguano, dance mask,

 


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