The smiling mask from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, USA)

In this article is described the unique mask kept in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, USA). The mask is made from iron and decorated by gold and silver damascening and engraving. According to the typological analysis and to the comparison with pictorial sources it dates back to XIV-XVII century. Most probably this mask was made in XIV - the beginning of XV century and was used by the warriors of Mongolia and the China of the Late Yuan Dynasty - the Early Ming Dynasty period.