Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, 21st to 25th Dynasty, ca. 1070 to 664 BCE. A wonderful cartonnage mummy mask formed by layering linen panels within a face-shaped mold until a thick mask emerges. The front of the mask bears a distinct red hue across the surface that is accentuated with huge almond-shaped eyes with elongated exterior canthi, a petite nose, puffy lips, and thin brows, and a black chinstrap traces the cheeks and beneath the chin. The horizontally striped headdress sits low on the forehead and bears alternating black and yellow bands. The concave verso is slightly larger than the width of a typical human head since it had to account for the face of the deceased when wrapped in layers of burial linens. Size: 7.25" W x 8.75" H (18.4 cm x 22.2 cm); 11.5" H (29.2 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.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired in 2000s; ex-collection of Erwann Monti
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#155657
Condition
Repairs to areas of periphery, with resurfacing and light overpainting along break lines. Several stable fissures across painted gesso, with chipping and fading to original gesso and pigment, light encrustations within verso, and desiccation to linens commensurate with age. Great remains of original pigment across face.