Lot 11
Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A finely crafted Egyptian wooden mummy mask from the Late Dynastic Period, this petite funerary portrait blends stylized solemnity with refined detail. Carved from wood and surfaced with a layer of gesso, the mask is painted in warm ochre tones and highlighted with copper elements that accentuate the sacred contours of the face. The expression is serene and idealized, with large, almond-shaped eyes painted black, bold arching brows, and a delicately defined mouth. The facial planes are softly modeled, evoking the calm eternity of the transfigured dead. Above the brow rests a banded headdress, painted in horizontal stripes that curve across the crown. This type of headdress, typical of Late Dynastic funerary imagery, conveyed dignity and divine association, its rhythmic bands evoking ceremonial regalia. Size: 1.5" L x 4.4" W x 5.2" H (3.8 cm x 11.2 cm x 13.2 cm); 7.8" H (19.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Though small in scale, the mask's presence is compelling. The copper application offers not only visual contrast but symbolic weight. In ancient Egyptian belief, copper carried solar associations and protective properties, reinforcing the masks role as a spiritual safeguard. The back of the mask is plain and unpainted, revealing the wood grain and three dowel holes used to secure it to the mummy's linen wrappings or a cartonnage casing. This piece reflects the enduring artistry of Late Dynastic Egypt - a portrait not of individual likeness, but of eternal identity shaped in paint, copper, and sacred form.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#194988
- Condition: Chipping to paint, copper, and gesso as shown, as well as loss to proper right side of nose. Otherwise, very nice presentation with great remaining pigments. Rich patina to surface. Three dowel holes in verso.
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