Romano-Egyptian Plaster Mummy Mask of Woman

Egypt, Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 30 BCE to 2nd century CE. An incredibly haunting plaster mummy mask, depicting a young woman with lifelike features and enormous eyes encircled by thick black pigment in the Egyptian manner. The placement of her painted pupils gives her the appearance of gazing upward at the viewer, while her pert nose and small mouth, set in a slight smile, creates an overall playful and youthful air. She also has delicately-painted eyebrows and a simple coiffure consisting of a raised band forming a crown around her head, a small bun at the back, and long tresses that hang over her shoulders. Curled earrings and two beaded strands around her neck are painted onto her body; a bright pink garment is visible below her neck. The skin tone is painted with a variety of colors rather than as a flat, single tone, lending the figure depth and realism. This face was modeled on the true features of the deceased, giving you an opportunity to visualize someone who died two millennia ago. Size: 5.8" W x 9.5" H (14.7 cm x 24.1 cm); 11.9" H (30.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Heads like this one reflect the profound change that the Greco-Roman world brought to Egypt. The naturalistic depiction of a person's face as a plaster mask or even full head replaced the stylized art of dynastic Egypt; hieroglyphs and other symbols painted on elaborate sarcophagi fell out of favor, and this head would have been a memorial alongside a simple wooden coffin. These heads were reserved for the elite, who were buried in small chapels, usually mummified and with other members of their family and/or town.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private New York, USA collection; ex-Sotheby's, New York "Antiquities and Islamic Art" auction (sale 5288, February 8, 1985, lot 275)

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#152892 Dimensions: Condition Report: Losses to back of head and neck as shown. The plaster is overlaid on a thin layer of pottery, which is lost in roughly the same areas as the plaster but with some more losses Repaired at neck. Some small chips to plaster and paint and rich deposits on surface. The original pigment is in great condition.