Mystery Men Masks

BluErf · 3rd February 2007, 02:26 AM

Dear all,

This is not quite ethnographic arms but I thought it was just so amazing that it's worth a look. The San Xing Dui (三星堆, "Three Star Mound") exhibition From Sichuan, China, is here in Singapore, at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Exhibits contain a number of bronze masks, animal sculptures, jade daggers and axes (which I realized I didn't take photos of. Duh!) from the Shu (蜀) people, dating back 3200 years. The Shu people had no written records of their own, and historians had to scour neighbouring civilisations for records/description of them, so much is steeped in mystery.

Some masks are life-sized while others are gigantic; the last mask measures 1.32m across. The unusual definition of the eyes, cheeks and mouth are really unique and beautiful. The strangest masks are those with protuding eyes and jumbo ears. It's speculated that the masks represent one of the Shu kings or his descendants, who are said to have very acute eye-sight (having 'perpendicular eyes', whatever that meant!?) and hearing.

The technology and artistry put into the construction of the masks must count amongst the most amazing of the ancient world.

http://www.acm.org.sg/pressroom/rele...ssReleaseID=11

FenrisWolf · 3rd February 2007, 03:46 AM

What's really amazing about these pieces is that they were obviously intended to be mounted as part of a larger sculpture, in all probability wood statues of figures, possibly with textile clothing and gold jewelry (notice the piercings for earrings). It is also likely (based on the statues one sees in the temples of Nepal) that the masks were painted, much as the Greek and Roman statues which we see as plain white marble were.

Were there any descriptions or represntations at the exhibits describing how they might have been originally displayed?

Alam Shah · 3rd February 2007, 04:08 AM

Kai Wee,
So you took pictures with your handphone.

BluErf · 3rd February 2007, 04:56 PM

There were no specific clues as to how the masks would have been mounted, but for those life-sized masks with the 'v' shaped neck portions, they were speculated to be mounted on wooden/clay bodies and covered in clothings, both of which did not survive the ravages of 3000 years.

The larger masks had mounting holes cut into the sides and back, but no one knew how they were mounted - on the pillars/beams of a temple or altar? Or on a totem pole?

Some of the masks bore traces of paint, like the 1st mask - traces of red pigment was found on the lips. These masks may have been painted to be more life-like.

Hi Shahrial - yep, the pictures were taken with a Nokia 6233, with no flash, under low-light conditions. I tried very hard to keep my hands steady.

FenrisWolf · 3rd February 2007, 05:52 PM

The three life-size figures show enough facial similarities that they could be three members of the same family, or even the same person at three stages of life; youth, prime of life, old age.

It's finds like this that remind us just how little we really know about early civilizations. I was watching a show about marine archaeology, and how they are finding neolithic cities that were submerged after the end of the last ice age. Think about how many modern cities would disappear if the sea level rose by seventy feet, and apply that to 10,000 years ago. One has been found off the coast of India, submerged under 50 feet of water. The island it was built upon was in the mouth of a river that served as the outlet for the floods that were unleashed when the glaciers of the Himilayas melted. Satellite photos show the channel of a river that makes the Nile look like a country stream, and it lasted for a thousand years.

One of the things we all have to remember is that we are just custodians of the past. Our collections don't belong to us, they're on loan to us.

VANDOO · 3rd February 2007, 10:39 PM

I SAW THIS EXHIBIT SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN TEXAS IT WAS THE FIRST TOUR THE LARGE MASKS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM THE FIND HAD MADE SINCE THEY WERE DISCOVERED. THE MASKS ARE VERY LARGE TOO BIG AND HEAVY FOR ONE MAN TO LIFT THERE WERE ALSO SOME VERY LARGE CEREMONIAL BRONZE VESSELS AND ONE LARGE BRONZE STATUE OF A FULL FIGURE WITH A FACE SIMULAR TO THE MASKS. THE EXHIBIT WAS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN FEATURING BRONZE ITEMS AND HAD QUITE A FEW OTHER TYPES OF ARTEFACTS AS WELL. AMAZING THAT YOU COULD TAKE SUCH GOOD PICTURES WITH A CELL PHONE. THANKS FOR SHAREING.

BluErf · 4th February 2007, 02:34 AM

Hi Fenris,

That is indeed an interesting observation! About youth, prime, old age. It's a pity much of the studies on this subject is half-speculation...

Hi Vandoo,

Hey unfair, they didn't bring the tall statue to Singapore. Only a plexi-glass cutout...

David · 4th February 2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluErf

Hi Shahrial - yep, the pictures were taken with a Nokia 6233, with no flash, under low-light conditions. I tried very hard to keep my hands steady.

That's it, i'm selling my Nikons. Why have i been wasting money on all this expensive pro gear!

All kidding aside i am seriously impressed with your skils with a cell phone Kai Wee.
Some of these faces are truely alien, don't you think?

Tim Simmons · 4th February 2007, 10:10 AM

Amazing. This exhibition should do a world tour. It is staggering the organisation , wealth and specialisation needed to produce such works in ancient times. You do not just wake up one morning and decide to cast an artistic and technique perfect giant bronze mask.

BluErf · 4th February 2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

That's it, i'm selling my Nikons. Why have i been wasting money on all this expensive pro gear!

All kidding aside i am seriously impressed with your skils with a cell phone Kai Wee.
Some of these faces are truely alien, don't you think?

Well, you look way cooler shooting with a Nikon than with a Nokia.

If you look at some of my reflections, I look rather silly staring at the phone while taking the pictures.

Yes, alien is certainly appropriate. Now that you mentioned it, the eyes do look very familiar...

http://www.crowdedskies.com/alien_pictures.htm
http://www.crowdedskies.com/alien_pictures2.htm

3rd February 2007, 02:26 AM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Mystery Men Masks Dear all, This is not quite ethnographic arms but I thought it was just so amazing that it's worth a look. The San Xing Dui (三星堆, "Three Star Mound") exhibition From Sichuan, China, is here in Singapore, at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Exhibits contain a number of bronze masks, animal sculptures, jade daggers and axes (which I realized I didn't take photos of. Duh!) from the Shu (蜀) people, dating back 3200 years. The Shu people had no written records of their own, and historians had to scour neighbouring civilisations for records/description of them, so much is steeped in mystery. Some masks are life-sized while others are gigantic; the last mask measures 1.32m across. The unusual definition of the eyes, cheeks and mouth are really unique and beautiful. The strangest masks are those with protuding eyes and jumbo ears. It's speculated that the masks represent one of the Shu kings or his descendants, who are said to have very acute eye-sight (having 'perpendicular eyes', whatever that meant!?) and hearing. The technology and artistry put into the construction of the masks must count amongst the most amazing of the ancient world. http://www.acm.org.sg/pressroom/rele...ssReleaseID=11 Attached Images

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3rd February 2007, 03:46 AM	#2
FenrisWolf Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 181	What's really amazing about these pieces is that they were obviously intended to be mounted as part of a larger sculpture, in all probability wood statues of figures, possibly with textile clothing and gold jewelry (notice the piercings for earrings). It is also likely (based on the statues one sees in the temples of Nepal) that the masks were painted, much as the Greek and Roman statues which we see as plain white marble were. Were there any descriptions or represntations at the exhibits describing how they might have been originally displayed?

3rd February 2007, 04:08 AM	#3
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Kai Wee, So you took pictures with your handphone.

3rd February 2007, 04:56 PM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	There were no specific clues as to how the masks would have been mounted, but for those life-sized masks with the 'v' shaped neck portions, they were speculated to be mounted on wooden/clay bodies and covered in clothings, both of which did not survive the ravages of 3000 years. The larger masks had mounting holes cut into the sides and back, but no one knew how they were mounted - on the pillars/beams of a temple or altar? Or on a totem pole? Some of the masks bore traces of paint, like the 1st mask - traces of red pigment was found on the lips. These masks may have been painted to be more life-like. Hi Shahrial - yep, the pictures were taken with a Nokia 6233, with no flash, under low-light conditions. I tried very hard to keep my hands steady.

3rd February 2007, 05:52 PM	#5
FenrisWolf Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 181	The three life-size figures show enough facial similarities that they could be three members of the same family, or even the same person at three stages of life; youth, prime of life, old age. It's finds like this that remind us just how little we really know about early civilizations. I was watching a show about marine archaeology, and how they are finding neolithic cities that were submerged after the end of the last ice age. Think about how many modern cities would disappear if the sea level rose by seventy feet, and apply that to 10,000 years ago. One has been found off the coast of India, submerged under 50 feet of water. The island it was built upon was in the mouth of a river that served as the outlet for the floods that were unleashed when the glaciers of the Himilayas melted. Satellite photos show the channel of a river that makes the Nile look like a country stream, and it lasted for a thousand years. One of the things we all have to remember is that we are just custodians of the past. Our collections don't belong to us, they're on loan to us.

3rd February 2007, 10:39 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I SAW THIS EXHIBIT SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN TEXAS IT WAS THE FIRST TOUR THE LARGE MASKS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM THE FIND HAD MADE SINCE THEY WERE DISCOVERED. THE MASKS ARE VERY LARGE TOO BIG AND HEAVY FOR ONE MAN TO LIFT THERE WERE ALSO SOME VERY LARGE CEREMONIAL BRONZE VESSELS AND ONE LARGE BRONZE STATUE OF A FULL FIGURE WITH A FACE SIMULAR TO THE MASKS. THE EXHIBIT WAS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN FEATURING BRONZE ITEMS AND HAD QUITE A FEW OTHER TYPES OF ARTEFACTS AS WELL. AMAZING THAT YOU COULD TAKE SUCH GOOD PICTURES WITH A CELL PHONE. THANKS FOR SHAREING.

4th February 2007, 02:34 AM	#7
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Hi Fenris, That is indeed an interesting observation! About youth, prime, old age. It's a pity much of the studies on this subject is half-speculation... Hi Vandoo, Hey unfair, they didn't bring the tall statue to Singapore. Only a plexi-glass cutout...

4th February 2007, 10:10 AM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Amazing. This exhibition should do a world tour. It is staggering the organisation , wealth and specialisation needed to produce such works in ancient times. You do not just wake up one morning and decide to cast an artistic and technique perfect giant bronze mask.