Large Egyptian sarcophagus mask from Faiyum
Price: on request
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Object number
AR2220
| Object: |
Large Egyptian sarcophagus mask from Faiyum
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| Material: |
Wood. Remains of white stucco and black paint.
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| Period: |
Late Period of Ancient Egypt, 26th to 31st dynasty, 664 BC to 332 BC. |
| Description: |
The Egyptian sarcophagus mask is a wooden relief showing a frontal view of an idealized face. The face is covered by a layer of white stucco, the eyes and forehead are painted 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: |
24.5cm high, 19cm wide, 9cm deep (an intact nose wood add approx. another centimeter).
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| Condition: |
Good overall condition. The nose is not fully intact, but might have been modeled from gypsum already in Antiquity. Ancient damage to the left cheek that was filled with gypsum. Remains of the original stucco and paint are still present.
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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 in 1978 at Davies Antiques, London for the Herbst collection and brought to Germany (a copy of the original invoice is available). Faiyum is passed down as the find spot on the invoice.
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| 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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