Helmet Mask (late 1800s-early 1900s), from Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Suku people Suku helmet masks are often used in initiation ceremonies for young men in the society. The masks intend to protect the reproductive abilities of newly initiated males. Helmet masks such as this represent images of deceased elders in the society. They are believed to ensure successful hunting, help cure illnesses, and protect its wearer from evil. The handle was originally hidden by a fringe of raffia fibers. The gazelle or antelope shape is typically associated with folktales, proverbs, and personal hunting exploits.

Featured on PDR in the collection Highlights from The Cleveland Museum of Art’s release of more than 30k images of public domain works

Last week The Cleveland Museum of Art announced the release of more than 34,000 digital images of public domain works — all high resolution and totally free from restrictions on reuse (using the Creative Commons Zero designation). Founded in 1913, the museum is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 61,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Here we've picked out some of our favourites from a few hours browsing the public domain collection (which didn't get through nearly half of what is on offer). In addition to images of 2D media we've also included at the end a smattering of objects, including a wonderful array of masks.