Aegean Art to Greek Art

Contextualization and Localization of TechniqueRepoussé and Fresco Introduction to Greek Art

The gold death mask of Oton, another

National Cultural Treasure, was discovered in the 1960s by Alfredo Evangelista and F. Landa Jocan. It consists of a gold nose-disc and eye-mask, both of which were found in a grave site in San Antonio, Oton, Iloilo.

The gold mask–dated from the late 14th to the early 15th century A.D.–is the first of its kind recovered in the Philippines. It was part of an ancient burial practice, with the gold mask serving as an amulet against evil spirits.

Oton Death MaskOton ,Iloilo

1300-1400 AD

The death mask was made by

cutting out two pieces of thin gold sheets. The pieces would then be placed on a soft surface, after which the craftsman would use a pointed tool to press the intricate design from behind.

The practice of using gold mask to cover the face of the dead was brought to the Philippines by the southern Chinese. Around that time, Oton was a center of trade route, so it didn’t take long before a limited group of Filipinos started to adopt the custom.

Oton Death Mask

Discovered in 2008 during an excavation

activities in Plaza Independencia, the gold death mask (see photo above) is only one evidence that ancient Cebuanos already had intricate culture and burial practices before the Spaniards arrived.

The said death mask was first described by the Jesuit Pedro Chirino in his Relaciones de las Islas Filipinas, published in Rome in 1600. During the ancient times, Cebuanos who could afford it honor their departed loved ones with masks made by pounding gold into thin sheets. They would make separate pieces to cover the eyes, nose, and the mouth.

Cebu’s Death Mask

Gold face covers are among the adornments

to survive in ancient burial sites across Indonesia and the Philippines. Prestige goods were considered as important in death as in life. The gold interred with the body guaranteed that the status and wealth of the deceased was acknowledged in the afterlife. Cut from beaten gold, some death masks cover the whole face, while others simply outline the facial features.

This funerary mask from Mindanao in the southern Philippines is ornate, with eye, mouth and forehead coverings fashioned into delicate curving forms.

Butuan Death MaskButuan, Agusan

800-1500 gold

overall 12.4 (h) x 12.2 (w) cm

Aegean Art inspired Art

Projects

Project 4: MaskProject 5: Fresco Technique

Materials:Aluminum Foil Plastic Mask Brush

Cut a the aluminum foil bigger than the size of the mask.

Using the back (negative side) of the mask fill in the aluminum foil using the brush until it gets the shape of the mask

Project 4: Repoussé Creating a Mask

Materials:Thin sheet of paper drawn with intended designPlaster of Paris PencilWater Acrylic PaintMold BrushPopsicle stick Follow the instruction in mixing the plaster of paris and water Pour in the mold and even the top using the popsicle stick Let dry for 15 minutes. Put the thin sheet of paper on top of the plaster material and using

the pencil trace the design. Put enough pressure on the pencil to “carve” the design on the plaster.

Let the plaster fully dry (45 minutes) and paint the design using acrylic paint.

Project 5: ala Fresco

Introduction to Ancient Greek Art