Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A carved wooden mask with large eyes, a slender nose, a gentle mouth with full lips, and detailed with a large, rounded headdress that sits low across the forehead. The back of the mask is flat, with residual dowels and dowel holes visible, and minute remnants of chalky-white gesso on the surface. The sarcophagus mask was an essential component of the mummy, placed over the head to provide an idealized image of the deceased as they would be once resurrected. This mask and others like it were traditionally carved from cedar. Comes with custom, museum-quality stand. Size: 10" H (25.4 cm); 12.5" H (31.8 cm) on included custom 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. 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, acquired through New York trade about 15 years ago
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#130848
Condition
Wood surface is worn from age, small losses to verso and headdress especially the left side (facing), some fading to carved details, with light cracking in some areas, otherwise very good. Nice gesso remains on the obverse face as well as earthen deposits throughout.