Gold-silver alloy (80%/20%) / 23x19,8x8cm / Place of discovery: Shenyang, China (2017)

The Liao Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in what is now northern China and present-day Mongolia, which was in power from 916 to 1125 and consisted largely of the Mongolian Khitan people. Even if splendid jewelry is probably not the first thing that comes to mind while thinking about the Mongols, China (in cooperation with Mongolia) has in the last 10-15 years more and more often started to organize large excavations including exhibition tours about the treasures of the Liao Dynasty. This magnificent and perfectly crafted mask impresses with its details, such as specially made ear holes including ibex earrings, perforated nostrils and a perforated rim for a silver wire with which the mask could be tied tightly to the corpse.