With All Hallows' Evening - or Hallowe'en - approaching, we thought it might be interesting to examine one of the more spooky artifacts in our collection.

With its roots in Western Christianity, All Hallows' Eve is the vigil before All Saints' Day. All Souls' Day follows on November 2nd, commemorating all the faithful departed.

Essentially, this part of the liturgical year is for remembering the dead. So what could be more appropriate than a death mask?