Funerary mask

Lambayeque rulers were patrons of vast workshops for finely crafted ornaments and ceremonial vessels, and at death, these lords were buried with large numbers of ceramics as well as objects made of precious metal, shell, and cloth. In addition to metal beakers, disks, and other ornaments, burials included large masks made of gold sheet. As many as five masks were placed into one burial: one attached to the head of the textile-wrapped body and the other four stacked at the feet. 

Originally painted with cinnabar, a red mineral pigment, the pattern on this mask may emulate the face paint worn by individuals of importance. According to early colonial era accounts, a member of the lord’s retinue was charged with maintaining such paints.