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Learn MoreAncient Egyptian Sarcophagus Mask
- This ancient mask hails from the Late Kingdom of Egypt
- It was originally part of a sarcophagus that was meant to protect a mummy
- Carved from a single piece of wood, it still bears its original ocher, black, blue and red paint
- An important part of Egyptian burial rituals, such masks are remarkable rarities today
- Get complete item description here
$34,500
Item No.
31-9482
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Description
Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus Mask
Late Period, 664-332 BCE
Originally part of a sarcophagus that was meant to protect a mummy, this rare large mask hails from the Late Kingdom of Egypt. It is carved from a single piece of wood and the face remarkably still bears the original light ocher and black paint that represents the kah, or the immortal spirit double of the deceased. The wig also has an abundance of paint, including. . .
Late Period, 664-332 BCE
Originally part of a sarcophagus that was meant to protect a mummy, this rare large mask hails from the Late Kingdom of Egypt. It is carved from a single piece of wood and the face remarkably still bears the original light ocher and black paint that represents the kah, or the immortal spirit double of the deceased. The wig also has an abundance of paint, including. . .
Read More
Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus Mask
Late Period, 664-332 BCE
Originally part of a sarcophagus that was meant to protect a mummy, this rare large mask hails from the Late Kingdom of Egypt. It is carved from a single piece of wood and the face remarkably still bears the original light ocher and black paint that represents the kah, or the immortal spirit double of the deceased. The wig also has an abundance of paint, including microscopic pigments of blue, red and yellow.
Masks were a crucial aspect of ancient Egyptian burials. In the Egyptians’ complicated view of life after death, they provided the dead with a face in the afterlife that enabled the person’s spirit, or ba, to recognize the body. Specific features of a mask, including the eyes, eyebrows, forehead and other features, were directly identified with individual divinities. This allowed the deceased to arrive safely in the hereafter and gain acceptance among the other divine immortals in the council of Osiris, the great god of the dead.
Initially made for only the royalty, such masks were also later crafted for the nobility. They became an important part of the elaborate precautions taken by the ancient Egyptians to preserve the body after death. Once the mummy was in the sarcophagus, the mask was placed over his or her face and held in place by wooden pegs. Such masks were in use well into the Greek Ptolemaic period around 300 BCE and are extremely hard to find on the market today.
14 3/4" high x 14" wide x 6 1/4" deep
Provenance:
Private collection, Paris
Private collection, 1980s
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Late Period, 664-332 BCE
Originally part of a sarcophagus that was meant to protect a mummy, this rare large mask hails from the Late Kingdom of Egypt. It is carved from a single piece of wood and the face remarkably still bears the original light ocher and black paint that represents the kah, or the immortal spirit double of the deceased. The wig also has an abundance of paint, including microscopic pigments of blue, red and yellow.
Masks were a crucial aspect of ancient Egyptian burials. In the Egyptians’ complicated view of life after death, they provided the dead with a face in the afterlife that enabled the person’s spirit, or ba, to recognize the body. Specific features of a mask, including the eyes, eyebrows, forehead and other features, were directly identified with individual divinities. This allowed the deceased to arrive safely in the hereafter and gain acceptance among the other divine immortals in the council of Osiris, the great god of the dead.
Initially made for only the royalty, such masks were also later crafted for the nobility. They became an important part of the elaborate precautions taken by the ancient Egyptians to preserve the body after death. Once the mummy was in the sarcophagus, the mask was placed over his or her face and held in place by wooden pegs. Such masks were in use well into the Greek Ptolemaic period around 300 BCE and are extremely hard to find on the market today.
14 3/4" high x 14" wide x 6 1/4" deep
Provenance:
Private collection, Paris
Private collection, 1980s
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Read Less
Specifications
| Period: | Ancient |
| Type: | Antiquities |
| Depth: | 6.25 in. (15.88 cm) |
| Width: | 14.0 in. (35.56 cm) |
| Height: | 14.75 in. (37.47 cm) |
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Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More
