Egyptian Painted Wood Mummy Mask w/ Green Pigment

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Connoisseur's Delight Fine Art & Antiquities

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 27, 2024

Set Reminder 2024-06-27 11:00:00 2024-06-27 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Connoisseur's Delight Fine Art & Antiquities https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/connoisseurs-delight-fine-art-antiquities-16181
Classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A hand-carved wooden mummy mask covered in a layer of white gesso and painted with vibrant pigments. The almond-shaped eyes exhibit elongated outer canthi, sweeping brows, tall ears, and a slender nose, all above a pair of red-painted lips and a protruding chin, the base of which likely once bore a false beard. The wig or cap is painted with black pigment to replicate the hair of the deceased, and the light green hue of the face is perhaps paying homage to the verdant-faced Osiris after being killed by his brother, Set. Size: 5" L x 10.375" W x 12.25" H (12.7 cm x 26.4 cm x 31.1 cm); 16.25" H (41.3 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Ancient Egyptians believed it was of the utmost importance to preserve a body of the deceased, as the soul needed a place to reside after the death. Conservation of the body was done via mummification - a process involving the removal of internal organs that were placed in canopic jars, wrapping the body in linen, and then embalming. Death masks, such as this, were created so that the soul could recognize the body and return to it and, thus, were carved 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.
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private American W.R. collection, Bloomington, Michigan, USA, owned until 2002, acquired at Pierre Berge Associates, Drouot (sale 16589, April 29, 2006); ex-private old French collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #187375

  Condition

  Repair to gesso in scattered areas, with chipping and light adhesive residue along break lines; losses to gesso in some areas. Abrasions and fading to gesso and pigment, with chips and splinters in scattered areas, and light earthen deposits, otherwise in great condition. Nice facial form preserved over the centuries. Old adhesive residue present along verso from previous mounting display.
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