Egyptian Cedar / Gesso Sarcophagus Mask

Egypt, Late Dynastic period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A hand-carved cedar wood sarcophagus mask of a broad and highly detailed form with a rounded chin, full lips, a slender nose with flared nostrils, and ovoid eyes with elongated canthi beneath gently arched brows. The ears are veristically detailed, and a simple headdress rests low on the broad forehead. The remains of several wooden dowels and dowel holes are visible across both the face and verso, and the front bears ample traces of applied white gesso. Size: 9.75" W x 11.2" H (24.8 cm x 28.4 cm); 16" H (40.6 cm) on included custom stand.

This mask and others like it were traditionally carved from cedar. Interestingly, cedar wood was not native to Egypt. Egypt did not have verdant forests filled with tall trees, and unfortunately most of its native lumber was of relatively poor quality. Thus, they relied on importing to acquire hardwoods - ebony imported from Africa, cedar and pine from Lebanon. One fabulous obelisk inscription by Thutmose III attests to the luxury of treasured hardwoods. It reads as follows, "They brought to me the choicest products . . . consisting of cedar, juniper and of meru wood . . . all the good sweet woods of God's Land." The rarity of cedar meant that masks like this one were reserved for those who could afford them.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private American collection, New York, USA, bought into the USA prior to 1950

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#151337
Condition Report: Losses to areas of ears, chin, headdress, original wooden dowels, and verso as shown. Several stable fissures across face and verso, with softening to some finer details, fading to original gesso, and light encrustations. Great traces of original gesso across face, and nice patina throughout.