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LOT 0022

Egyptian Late Dynastic Cedar Wood Sarcophagus Mask

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Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A beautiful anthropoid sarcophagus mask that is hand-carved from finely grained cedar wood. The serene face presents with almond-shaped eyes with elongated outer corners, lightly tapered cheeks, and a rounded chin beneath full lips, all beneath a tall headdress that sits low on the broad forehead. Five original dowel holes are visible across the mask, and two still retain fragments of their original wooden dowels. Masks like this were typically decorated with white gesso and painted with vibrant pigments, and traces of white gesso can still be seen across this composition. Size: 5.375" W x 8.125" H (13.7 cm x 20.6 cm); 10.5" H (26.7 cm) on included custom stand.

This mask and others like it were traditionally carved from cedar wood. 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. So 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: ex-private Knoxville, Tennessee, USA collection, formed in the 1950s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#151527
Condition Report: Losses to areas of headdress, nose, peripheries, and verso as shown. Nicks and abrasions to face, headdress, peripheries, and verso, with fading to most original gesso, several stable fissures, and softening to some facial details. Faint traces of original white gesso across obverse and wonderful patina throughout.

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Time, Location
16 Jan 2020
USA, Louisville, KY
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[ translate ]

Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A beautiful anthropoid sarcophagus mask that is hand-carved from finely grained cedar wood. The serene face presents with almond-shaped eyes with elongated outer corners, lightly tapered cheeks, and a rounded chin beneath full lips, all beneath a tall headdress that sits low on the broad forehead. Five original dowel holes are visible across the mask, and two still retain fragments of their original wooden dowels. Masks like this were typically decorated with white gesso and painted with vibrant pigments, and traces of white gesso can still be seen across this composition. Size: 5.375" W x 8.125" H (13.7 cm x 20.6 cm); 10.5" H (26.7 cm) on included custom stand.

This mask and others like it were traditionally carved from cedar wood. 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. So 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: ex-private Knoxville, Tennessee, USA collection, formed in the 1950s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#151527
Condition Report: Losses to areas of headdress, nose, peripheries, and verso as shown. Nicks and abrasions to face, headdress, peripheries, and verso, with fading to most original gesso, several stable fissures, and softening to some facial details. Faint traces of original white gesso across obverse and wonderful patina throughout.

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Estimate
Unlock
Time, Location
16 Jan 2020
USA, Louisville, KY
Auction House
Unlock
View it on