Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Mesh Mask, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Encampment Golden Rule Degree - Black Beard
ca. 1910
Maker not marked
USA (likely)
Metal, hair, paint, cotton
16"h x 7"w x 5"d
Gift of James J. Bennette
2017.034.6

Mesh Mask, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Encampment Golden Rule Degree - Black Beard. Mask composed of metal mesh formed in face shape and painted pinkish brown overall. Eyes, cheeks, and lips feature painted details in shades of black, brown, red, pink, and white; mouth depicted as slightly open and showing several white teeth. Eyebrows, mustache, and beard made of black hair (likely animal) sewn onto metal mesh with dark brown thread (likely cotton); beard hair wavy, approximately 9" from top to bottom, and sewn along jawline from one side of mask to the other. Beard composed of three separate widths of sewn hair. Interior of mask bears lengths of brown thread from where hair sewn to front. Face mask trimmed in strips of brown-painted metal which wrap over outer edge.