According to one shopper, the death mask was a "historic artefact" of no more significance than that of the Pope.

BBC: Anger over Cromwell death mask plan

Plans to exhibit the death mask of Oliver Cromwell have sparked controversy in an Irish town whose inhabitants he is believed to have slaughtered.

BBC: Anger over Cromwell death mask plan

To dispel her fear, he grinned ingratiatingly at her it was the exaggerated death-mask grin of a person not used to grovelling then he looked around to figure out where he had left the table.

NEWYORKER: The Elephant