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An Egyptian gilt polychrome painted cartonnage mummy mask image 1
An Egyptian gilt polychrome painted cartonnage mummy mask image 2
An Egyptian gilt polychrome painted cartonnage mummy mask image 3
Lot 312*

An Egyptian gilt polychrome painted cartonnage mummy mask

Antiquities
6 July 2023, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £44,800 inc. premium

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An Egyptian gilt polychrome painted cartonnage mummy mask
Late Ptolemaic-Early Roman Period, circa 1st Century B.C.-1st Century A.D.
48cm high

Footnotes

Provenance:
with Charles Ede Ltd, London (Small Sculpture from Ancient Egypt, 1970, no. 40, and C. Ede, Collecting Antiquities, London, 1976, cover and p.97, no. 267).
Bodo Bleß (1940-2022) collection, Berlin, acquired from the above.

According to Egyptian tradition the mask was believed to act as a substitute for the deceased's head, giving the owner attributes of the gods, so helping their journey to the afterlife. Typically the gilt face is surrounded by scenes of protective deities. On this mask the sun disc on the forehead and the winged scarab above symbolise regeneration and Osiris is shown on each of the lappets being venerated by the deceased, while beneath there is a row of seated deities. On each side of the mask there is the protective figure of winged Isis.
It is suggested that such gilt masks belonged to people of relatively high social status. For a discussion of gilt masks, see S. Walker and M. Bierbrier, Ancient Faces, Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt, British Museum, 1997, pp. 77-78.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

An Anatolian marble idol
A Mesopotamian clay cuneiform foundation cone with dedication inscription of King Lipit-Ishtar of Isin
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A Babylonian agate "eye-stone" bead, inscribed for Nebuchadnezzar II
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A Roman marble head of a satyr
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