Ancient Egypt, Late Period, ca. 712 to 300 BCE. Carved from a fine-grained hardwood and embellished with painted gesso, an elegant sarcophagus mask presenting a visage presenting wide-open paste glass eyes with painted pupils/irises, paste glass arched brows, a naturalistic nose, and full lips - all topped by what remains of a striated headdress. Masterful modeled, beautifully painted with a warm red-brown complexion, and impressively detailed with an enigmatic smile and elegant contours. Original paint, original gesso, original paste glass eyes, and original peg holes on backside for attachment to sarcophagus with remains of some original pegs still in place. Size: 7" W x 9" H (17.8 cm x 22.9 cm); 10.75" H (27.3 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 likeness of the deceased. Artisans used different materials. Earlier masks were carved from wood, while later ones were made of cartonnage, a material made from papyrus or linen and soaked in plaster which was then applied to a wooden mold, was used. Royal death masks, perhaps the most famous being that of Tutankhamen, were made from precious metals. All death masks were intended to resemble the deceased subject; however, eyes were always slightly enlarged and lips presented in a subtle smile, as we see in this example.
Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection, acquired in 1992; ex-Civilization Gallery, Dr. Kilinski collection, Dallas, Texas, USA
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#157049
Condition
Gesso cracked in several places with losses as shown. Stable and generally good.