Woman's face mask

NameMask

CultureHarb Tribe (Sunni Bedouin)

Date20th century

Place madeHejaz, Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Asia

MediumCotton, metal (silver, copper) and plastic beads, leather, paint

Dimensions8 1/4 × 9 1/16 × 11/16 in. (21 × 23 × 1.7 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Anne Marie Weiss-Armush, A.2018.5.4

Object numberA.2018.5.4

ProvenanceThe donor married a Syrian man and moved to Saudi Arabia in 1976, where she lived for 11 years. During her stay she amassed a large collection of Middle Eastern garments.

DescriptionThis stiff cotton face mask, with cotton lining, has rectangular eyeholes. There is a central, vertical ridge created by a stitched pleat. It is embellished with couched metal (silver, copper) seed beads hammered flat. Metallic and red thread create a zig-zag pattern. There are yellow patches hand-painted with red lines above and below the eyes. Leather ties fasten around head.