Egyptian Granite Mask from a Sarcophagus

Late Period, 664-332 BC. A carved black granite head, possibly once part of a stone sarcophagus, youthful face with idealised features, wearing a bag wig falling low on the brow and delineated from the forehead by a deeply incised line, rounded cheeks and almond-shaped eyes, the mouth set in a slight smile with the lips exhibiting a well-defined contour line around the edges, as is typical for high-quality workmanship; the head accompanied by four glazed composition mummiform funerary figurines; all mounted on a custom-made display stand. See Aldred, C., 'Statuaire (Chapitre II)' in Leclant, J. (ed.), L’Égypte du crépuscule. De Tanis à Méroé 1070 av. J.-C. - IVe siècle apr. J.-C., Paris: Gallimard, 1980; Bothmer, B. V. et al., Egyptian Sculpture of the Late Period 700 B.C. to A.D. 100, Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Museum, 1960; Buhl, M.-L., The late Egyptian anthropoid stone sarcophagi, København: Nationalmusee, 1959; D'Auria, S., Lacovara P. & Roehrig, C. H., Mummies & Magic, The Funerary Arts of Ancient Egypt, Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1988. 5 kg total, 25cm including stand (9 3/4"). From the private collection of a medical professional; previously in a French collection, acquired in 2012 for a New York, USA gallery; formerly in the collection of Mr. Nahman, since 1950, thence by descent; accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.227349 and a copy of an academic report by Dr Alberto Maria Pollastrini; accompanied by scholarly note TL05402 by Dr Ronald Bonewitz; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10900-180444. The so-called Archaic smile is an element that appeared early in 26th Dynasty and became a regular feature of Late Period and Ptolemaic art. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website]
Condition Report: Fine condition.