Egypt, New Kingdom, XVIII Dynasty, ca. 1200 BCE. A petite carved wooden sarcophagus mask, carved from fine-grained cedar wood, presenting a mesmerizing visage comprised of large, almond-shaped lined eyes, an arched browline leading to an aquiline nose, closed full lips, and a pointed chin. The face still possess nice remains of black and white pigmentation. There is an original peg hole on the verso. The mask was an essential part of the mummy, placed over the head to provide an idealized image of the deceased as they would be resurrected. A special piece with wonderful provenance. Size: 4.125" W x 5.5" H (10.5 cm x 14 cm); 7.75" H (19.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Ancient Egyptians believed it was of the utmost importance to preserve a body of the deceased, because the soul needed a place to reside after the death. Preservation of the body was done via mummification - a process involving the removal of internal organs that were placed in canopic jars, wrapping body in linen, and then embalming. Death masks like this example were created so that the soul could recognize the body and return to it. For this reason, death masks were made in the relative likeness of the deceased.
This mask and others like it were traditionally carved from cedar. 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. Thus, 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." The rarity of cedar meant that masks like this one were reserved for those who could afford them.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, found by Julian Wadsworth in Cairo, Egypt in 1890; ex-MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois which was originally from the collection of a professor, Dr. Wallace M. Sterns in the 1930s, who was a member of the Egyptian Exploration fund in 1914
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#146361
Condition
Losses to peripheries and nose as shown. Expected surface wear, but much of the black and white painted gesso remains. Stable age cracks and abrasions as well as old collection label visible on verso. One peg hole on verso and one peg hole beneath chin.