Hidden behind the mask: An authentication study on the Aztec mask of the Museum of Ethnography, Budapest, Hungary

•An authenticity study of a presumably Mexican origin Aztec mask of the Museum of Ethnography, Budapest was performed.•Mostly non-destructive XRF, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopic, as well as biological and C-14 studies were done.•Based on C-14 measurements, the object was dated between 1492-1653 AD, thus proved to be authentic.•The UV photographic inspection revealed the use of multiple materials for manufacturing the mask.•The composition of the turquoise tesserae is different from most of the known turquoise sources in the US Southwest.