Death Mask

A death mask is usually a wax or plaster cast of the face, created once a person has died. Although somewhat uncommon in the 21st century, in the past they were produced for a variety of reasons, including as a homage to the deceased, for use in rituals, to be used as effigies, to create a record of the deceased's facial appearance, or for scientific and medical research. Famous people who had a death mask include Benjamin Franklin, Oliver Cromwell, Isaac Newton, Ludwig von Beethoven, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ned Kelly, Joseph Stalin, Mary Queen of Scots, and Frédéric Chopin.

Typically, death masks are created soon after the individual has died and before gravity has begun to distort the facial features. Because the mask comes directly from the face of the deceased, it is an extremely accurate and precise representation of the person. This also means, however, that the cause and pain of death can also be seen in the masks; for example, it is often possible to tell whether the deceased had suffered a stroke due to the drooping of one side of the face.

The process of making a death mask is relatively straightforward. First, the facial features may be manipulated to present a particular expression, before lubricant is spread over the face and neck and a casting substance is applied to the face. Once the cast has set, the lubricant allows it to be removed in one piece. The cast can then be left in this state or embellished with paint or jewelry. Sometimes masks have been made from iron or other metals, such as bronze.

Death masks have a long history throughout the world and have been found in many early civilizations, including the Incas and Roman Empire. Many historians and archaeologists have cited their earliest known origins to be in ancient Egypt. Evidence found in Egypt suggests that between the Middle Kingdom (approximately 2000 B.C.E.) and 1 B.C.E., death masks were sculpted as a likeness of the face of the deceased and placed on top of their mummified remains before interment. In accordance with beliefs about life after death and the fate of the soul, it was believed that these masks would provide a face for the dead in the afterlife and enable the returning soul to recognize his or her own body. Sometimes a more lavish sculpture of the deceased's face would also be left in their tomb. These masks would be adorned with gold and jewels depending on the status of the deceased individual. The most famous of these is the gold mask of King Tutankhamen.

Death masks have been used in funeral rituals throughout the world. Both in the past and today, for some African, Oceanic, and Native American tribes, death masks—made either directly from the face of the deceased or as a likeness—form an important part of the funerary rites that surround the dead person. They are often used to evoke the image of death at these ceremonies or to assist the deceased's soul in its transition to the next life. These masks may also be used in other tribal ceremonies to remember and honor the dead. In this way, they can act as symbolic markers between the past and the present.

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