Wood Sarcophagus Mask with a Gilded Face

Culture: Egyptian

Period: New Kingdom, 1570-1070 B.C.

Material: Wood

Dimensions: 26.5 cm high

Price: 26 000 Euro

Ref: 1547

Provenance: From the Swiss collection Barbier-Mueller, acquired in 1967. Thence Galerie Puhze, acquired prior to 2010. On 6 July 2010 acquired by the German collection Erika Krautkrämer (1932-2022). Thence in a family estate. With the original certificate of authenticity of Galerie Puhze.

Condition: Except for a retouching on the chin very beautifully preserved. Colour on the pupils possibly freshened up.

Description: Worked out in high-quality and particularly expressive wood sarcophagus mask dating to the New Kingdom. The mask depicts a man with a slender face, well-formed mouth and fine nose. His eyes are large, the pupils deep black on a white priming. Above elegantly drawn, black brows. Face and neck are stuccoed and on top covered with a gold layer. This gold was supposed to represent the “flesh of the gods”, which not only qualified the deceased as “justified”, but also stood for immortality. Particularly striking with the present mask is the wood crown, where a rootstock protrudes from the centre, which lends a very special expression. On the right a tenon for affixing on the sarcophagus is still preserved. Mounted.