Egyptian Gesso Painted Cedar Sarcophagus Mask

**Originally Listed At $800**

Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A beautiful sarcophagus mask carved from finely grained cedar wood and covered with thick layers of painted gesso. The countenance presents with bulging almond-shaped eyes, a broad nose with flared nostrils, full lips with slightly indented corners, a rounded chin, and smooth cheeks, all beneath a wide headdress that sits low on the forehead. White gesso covers most of the obverse side, and traces of original grey and black pigment are visible across the face and forehead. Remains of the original wooden dowels and dowel holes can be seen on the verso. A wonderful example of ancient Egyptian funerary tradition! Size: 9.125" W x 11.25" H (23.2 cm x 28.6 cm).

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 example were reserved for those who could afford them.

Provenance: private Pennsylvania, USA collection; ex-William Ashby estate collection, California, USA, 1980s

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#149012
Condition Report: Repairs to back of forehead, with light adhesive residue along break lines. Losses to areas of cheeks, peripheries, verso, and dowels as shown. Chipping and fading to original pigmentation, with softening to some finer details, and several stable fissures. Light earthen deposits and great traces of original pigment throughout. Mounted with modern metal bracket and suspension loop on verso for display.