Miniature Mask c. 5th century

This miniature mask was carved by a Huastec artist, though we don't know precisely when. The Huastec people, who are related to the Maya, are indigenous to a region of Mexico along the Gulf coast. Masks played an important role in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Often they were used in ritual contexts to represent deities or ancestors, and the Huastec were no different. Given its small size, this mask was likely worn as a pendant or perhaps even placed as an offering. It's not difficult to imagine this mask forming part of a larger ensemble, one that would have impressed upon a viewer the power and status of its wearer. As historians, we can look to other examples of Huastec carving as well as Spanish colonial accounts to understand the social context of this mask better. In doing so, we can begin to understand the role of art objects like this miniature mask in Huastec society. The mask can be considered as a contingent object, one that is shaped by its time and place.