Lot 5A
Egypt, Late Period, ca. 712 to 300 BCE. This carved and painted wooden sarcophagus mask displays quintessential Egyptian beauty; notice its quixotic, large black outlined eyes - with deep-set lids framed by an arched browline that meets the bridge of its relatively naturalistic nose protruding above its closed mouth. An elegant and refined mask with russet red painted flesh tones and black and white painted eyes, the mask was an essential part of a mummy, placed over the head to provide an idealized image of the deceased. This particular mask is relatively small and was probably made for a child or a petite woman. Size: 3.75" W x 4.125" H (9.5 cm x 10.5 cm); 7" H (17.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Mummy masks were principally used to protect the face of the deceased, but they could also act as a substitute for the mummified head in the case of loss or damage. The ancient Egyptians believed that the ba (often incorrectly translated as spirit) could leave the tomb and travel freely in the world of the living. To make sure that upon returning it would recognize the mummy, whose face was hidden by layers of bandage, the mask functioned as a portrait. Nevertheless, most masks had idealized features and were rarely particularized portraits.
Provenance: private Hagar collection, St. Louis, Missouri, USA collection
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#128957
- Condition: A fascinating old repair to the nose; note how the wooden pegs used to secure it have survived. Age cracks and expected surface wear commensurate with age, but much pigment remains.
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