Masks of this type rose to popularity in the Late Period of Ancient Egypt. They likely had both a decorative and symbolic role, as the burial of the dead in Ancient Egypt was an elaborate and ritualised process. Their unnaturalistic style and the similarities between beaded mummy masks in general make it unlikely that they were modelled after the face of the deceased individual; they seem to have more likely been generic images of a dead human face as the absence of expression and the blue-greenish skin complexion could indicate. However, such masks have also been interpreted as visual representations of the god Osiris – himself also a dead being – frequently depicted in the tombs with an identical skin-colour.
Ancient Egyptian Faience Beads Mummy Mask
£ 395.00
A fine Egyptian mummy mask made of small faience beads, restrung in their original arrangement. Pale green, black, red and cream tones have been used to render in a highly stylised manner a human face with a neutral expression. The large trapezoid eyes, long thin eyebrows, broad nose and small mouth are arranged in a perfectly symmetrical manner. The mask would have been placed over the face of the deceased at their burial, in a similar manner to the better-known cartonnage mummy masks, mostly for decorative or protective purposes.
Period: Late Dynastic Period
Provenance: From Mariaud de Serres collection, Paris 1980-90s.
Condition: Fine, restrung with original faience beads. Some beads might display signs of ageing to the surface.
SOLD
| Dimensions | L 10.8 x W 12.3 cm |
|---|---|
| Egyptian Mythology | Osiris |
| Region | North Africa |
| Faience | Green Faience, Red Faience, Turquoise Faience |
Reference: For a similar item, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, item number 10060.
