Shaping the Body and the Mind
Fashioning the Mask
Ceramic Animal-Masked Head. Pottery, Zapotec, Central Mexico. Purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1948. PRM 1948.3.5B.
I find it interesting that these figures are designed to represent some kind of ideal human. It makes me think about the importance we place on masking; or rather, the importance of masking that is put on us by society. The emotions you can see in this case are, by their very nature, studied. In my early teens, I had to spend a lot of time studying social cues in order to gain access to social spaces. I think most people don’t realise just how much of human interaction is based on rituals. When these things don’t come naturally, you essentially learn them like scripts.
Hannah H., Museum Enjoyer
View the collections entry for this object with zoomable image.
Clowning Around
Netsuke of a mask of a man with a pointed beard. Wood, Japan (made before 1920). Donated the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1980. PRM 1980.34.161
Netsuke of a child climbing on a sleeping woman. Ivory, Japan (made before 1939). Donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1980. PRM 1980.34.2566.
Charming and mischievous, these Japanese netsuke helped fasten personal items to a man’s kimono, perhaps giving us a glimpse of their personalities. Fun and play are really important to me and my daughter. Not only for creating joy, but also in helping us learn and communicate with one another. Both these netsuke and the performance masks across from them caught our eyes and made us wonder about all the games they might wish to play.
Sarah and Lucy S., A mother and daughter who love to play!
View the collections entry for the mask netsuke with zoomable image.
View the collections entry for the woman and child netsuke with zoomable image.
A Spoonful of Hugs
Rice spoon with handle carved with two figures embracing. Wood, Ifugoa, Philippines (made before 1913). Purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1913. PRM 1913.77.13.
Everybody needs care. We love that this spoon - a normal everyday item - lets you feel the embrace with each use.
Sarah and Lucy S., a mother and daughter who give loads of hugs.
View the collections entry for the spoon with zoomable image.
Plan of the museum's ground floor showing the location for these two nearby trail stops in the right corner (southwest) of the main court not far from the gallery doorway to the lift and stairs. One display case faces the outer aisle and is in a large glass box display on wooden legs, and the desktop case immediately in front. The second stop, is behind these display cases, in a desktop case just inside the grid of cases that make up the main court.
This co-produced gallery trail was developed in partnership with the Curating for Change project. Supported by Accentuate and Screen South, the project provides opportunities for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people to pursue a curatorial career in museums.
Find out more about Curating for Change
