Egyptian Wood Sarcophagus Mask

Late Period through the Ptolemaic Period, circa 664 to 30 BCE.

A carved native hardwood anthropoid sarcophagus mask, likely from native sycamore fig or acacia wood, once attached via wooden dowels to the lid of a mummy case. Carved with broad, idealized facial planes, featuring full lips, a broad nose, and large almond shaped eyes and painted gesso. Across the forehead and brow remains a substantial section of original gesso ground bearing pigment, including black detailing along the eyebrow ridge and remnants of red/pink wash atop the white gesso. The reverse exhibits a naturally hollowed, knotted wood cross-section, stable burial aging, ancient insect holes, and dowel drill holes at the top rim.
Archaeologically weathered and fragmentary, as expected for wood statues of such deep age. The wood exhibits heavy deep-grain desiccation, cracking, and natural loss to the chin and perimeter edges. Gesso and pigment survive predominantly on the forehead, with scattered flakes across the face. Impressive nonetheless.

Good size, perhaps from an outer coffin, 16-1/2 inches Height x 12 inches Wide. 20 inches height fitted with a custom painted metal bracket and mounted on a dark hardwood display base.

Provenance: Ex Seattle WA estate Collection.