Egyptian sarcophagus mask
Price: on request
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Object number
AR2218
| Object: |
Egyptian sarcophagus mask
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| Material: |
Light wood with white stucco, painted in red and black.
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| Period: |
New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 18th to 20th dynasty, approx. 1550 BC to 1070 BC |
| Description: |
The Egyptian sarcophagus mask is a wooden relief showing a frontal view of an idealized face. The face is colored in red, painted on a layer of white stucco. The eyes are outlined in black. The rear is flat and was once attached to the sarcophagus. The face was integrated in the overall design of the sarcophagus lid. Since a few centuries, Egyptian sarcophagus masks are extremly popular in Ancient Egypt collections. The life like appearance of the faces are fascinating and like a looking glass into the past. |
| Background: |
The face mask was the head piece mounted on the outside of a sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptians. Such painted face masks were attached to the coffin by wooden pins. The head dress was formed out of stucco and applied above the mask.
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| Dimensions: |
Approx. 20cm length, approx. 17cm width, approx. 6cm depth.
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| Condition: |
Some cracks and hole in the wood, parts of the original pins for attachment present. The white stucco with red and black paint is largely still in place. Wonderful state of preservation for an ancient piece of painted wood. Old sticker from Davies Antiques attached to the back side with text "75A 95".
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2017 from the private posession of M. Voos, Germany. Inherited by M. Voos from the Germany private collection H. Herbst. Acquired approx. in 1976 at Davies Antiques, London for the Herbst collection and brought to Germany (a copy of the original invoice is available).
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| References: |
Cf. KV63 tomb (2005), sarcophagus B and G. Cf. Virtual Egyptian Museum, Catalog no. WOD.LL.00151. |
| Literature: |
S. Walker, M. Bierbrier: Ancient Faces, Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt (Part IV of the Catalogue of Roman Portraits in the British Museum).
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| Authenticity: |
We guarantee the authenticity of this object and all works of ancient art sold by us for life.
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