Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, Dynasties 21 to 25, ca. 1070 to 712 BCE. A strikingly veristic mummy mask, skillfully carved from a piece of cedar wood, delineated with a slender face and naturalistic features including tranquil almond-shaped eyes with delineated lids, arching eyebrows, a narrow aquiline nose, closed, full lips, finely modeled cheeks and facial planes, and a delicate chin emerging from the neck. The wood has developed a rich, lustrous patina over the ages. What's more, remains of an original wooden dowel have survived. Given the delicate nature and scale of this mask, it may have represented a petite woman or adolescent youth. Custom, lucite stand. Size: 4.125" W x 7.375" H (10.5 cm x 18.7 cm); 8.75" H (22.2 cm) on stand

Interestingly, cedar wood was not native to Egypt. Egypt did not have verdant forests filled with tall trees, and unfortunately most of its native lumber was of relatively poor quality. So they relied on importing to acquire hardwoods - ebony imported from Africa, cedar and pine from Lebanon. One fabulous obelisk inscription by Thutmose III attests to the luxury of treasured hardwoods. It reads as follows, "They brought to me the choicest products . . . consisting of cedar, juniper and of meru wood . . . all the good sweet woods of God's Land." (Obelisk inscription by Thutmose III - J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part Two, p. 321)

Provenance: Ex-Private European collection acquired before 1975

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#118507

A section with stable age cracks. Inactive insect damage with losses to nose, chin, left cheek, lips, and peripheries. Nice, rich patina.