Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. An attractive sarcophagus mask that is hand-carved from hardwood and perhaps depicts a high-class woman. Covered in a layer of white gesso and painted with vibrant colors, the elegant visage presents with enormous, almond-shaped eyes outlined in black with elongated canthi, a pair of sweeping eyebrows, a slender nose with lightly flared nostrils, slightly concave cheeks, and full lips turned up into a slight smile. The yellow-white hue of the face makes for a great ground atop which areas of ochre, crimson, and blue pigment are applied to create decorative 'beadwork' along the top of the headdress as well as a large sun disc just above the brow. A set of 8 dowel holes on the verso indicate how the mask was attached to the head of a mummy or sarcophagus lid, and some still retains fragments of their original dowels. A mesmerizing mask from ancient Egypt! Size: 11" H (27.9 cm); custom display stand included.

Mummy masks were principally used to protect the face of the deceased, but they could also act as a substitute for the mummified head in the case of loss or damage. In addition, the ancient Egyptians believed that the "ba" (often incorrectly translated as "spirit") could leave the tomb and travel freely in the world of the living. To make sure that upon returning it would recognize the mummy, whose face was hidden by layers of bandages, the mask functioned as a portrait. Nevertheless, most masks had idealized features and were rarely particularized portraits.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA; Sold to Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir by Salahaddin Sirmali on May 15, 1930; Authenticated and appraised by Mr. Hossen Rashed, head of the Egyptian Antiquities house.

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#170406

Losses to several areas of peripheries as shown. Light touch-up painting around eyes. Abrasions, chipping, and fading to painted gesso, with several stable fissures visible along unpainted areas, with damage to some dowels and dowel holes on verso, and age-commensurate desiccation to exposed wooden areas. Nice preservation to pigment color in most areas, and great preservation to facial detailing.