Vertical-eyed Bronze Mask

Age:1600 BC to 1046 BC

Size:Width: 138cm; Height: 66cm

This is a large-dimensioned bronze mask featuring a square chin, with its crescent-shaped eyebrows aligned to form a V-shaped pattern, and the tips slightly curling up. Its eyes are slanted and prolonged sufficiently to accommodate two protruding cylindrical eyeballs of 16cm in a manner of extreme exaggeration. The two ears are fully out-stretched and their upper tips are in the shapes of two pointed fans. Its nose looks like an eagle's beak with two helical wings each adorned by the patterns of a counter-clocked whirlpool. Its mouth is carved deep and broad as a furrow, forming two uplifting curves at the ends. It seems that the tip of tongue is slighted sticking out, almost as if it is smiling enigmatically. At the center of its forehead, there is a square opening, which probably had decorations attached. We therefore imagine that in the original look, the mask would have been more fantastic to behold. 

It is an idol to represent the ancient Shu people's ancestor.