{"product_id":"ancient-egyptian-polychrome-wooden-sarcophagus-mask-late-period-26th-31st-dynasty-c-664-332-bc","title":"Ancient Egyptian Polychrome Wooden Sarcophagus Mask – Late Period, 26th–31st Dynasty, c. 664–332 BC","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"\u003eAn exceptional ancient Egyptian wooden sarcophagus mask depicting an idealised female face, dating to the Late Period, c. 664–332 BC.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand carved from a single piece of timber over 2,300 years ago, the face retains substantial areas of its original painted surface, including white, red and black and blue pigments. These surviving details emphasise the remarkably human appearance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe expressive female visage is defined by large almond-shaped eyes outlined in black pigment. Surviving pale pigment remains around the cheeks, cheekbones, mouth and inner portions of the eyes, while a partial red-painted detail survives across the brow. The upper portion of the mask, now largely bare wood with traces of dark blue pigmentation, is consistent with the representation of the wig, or hair.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFunerary masks from anthropoid coffins and sarcophagi such as this were created in an idealised likeness of the deceased, serving to preserve their identity and provide a recognisable image for the spirit in the afterlife so it could re-enter the body. The face, or “mask”, was carved separately and would have been pegged in place on the coffin during the manufacture process.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe rear of the mask retains seven attachment holes arranged in a U-shaped configuration, with surviving wooden dowel fragments in some apertures. This construction is consistent with the mask having originally been attached to the wooden coffin or sarcophagus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe timber used in the construction of this specimen, along with the entire wooden anthropoid coffin\/sarcophagus it belonged to, was most likely imported from Lebanon, as Egypt lacked large native trees suitable for construction. Trade is documented as early as the 4th Dynasty under King Sneferu (c. 2613-2589 BC), who recorded importing 40 shiploads of cedar wood from Lebanon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpecimen Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen: \u003c\/strong\u003eAncient Egyptian Polychrome Wooden Sarcophagus Mask \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e: Egypt, North Africa \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Late Period, c. 664–332 BC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Wood, most likely cedar, with original gesso and painted decoration \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions\u003c\/b\u003e: 201mm height x 100mm width x 65mm deep (from tip of nose to flat back).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisplay\u003c\/strong\u003e: Including display stand (\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eimages with stand coming soon)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eFine condition.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eNo repairs or alterations. Areas of loss\u003cspan\u003e to the pigmented surface, yet the overall facial form remains intact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe rear of the mask retains seven original attachment holes, some with surviving wooden dowel fragments within. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Previously held within historic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e collections inside the United States of America. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormerly in the Carl R. collection, USA, 1990s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Subsequently part of the Steve Vanguard inventory (Vanguard collectables), California, USA, throughout the 2000s. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEx Colby Abele, a prominent antiquities dealer based in Las Vegas, Nevada \u0026amp; Orange, California, USA, 2026.  \u003cbr\u003eAcquired by Collectors’ Cabin, North West England, UK, Imported from USA, October 2026. \u003cem\u003eCertificate of authenticity included. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComparable specimens (reference):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAccession number \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e52.55.73\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eNational Museums Liverpool, World Museum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAccession number\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e 1973.1.649\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eNational Museums Liverpool, World Museum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eInventory number \u003cstrong\u003e199466 MNW\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003cem\u003eNational museum in Warsaw \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Collectors' Cabin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56970455482754,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0929\/9050\/5346\/files\/98CAA754-036A-461B-9460-B037CEA4C8F8.jpg?v=1793023547","url":"https:\/\/www.collectorscabin.shop\/products\/ancient-egyptian-polychrome-wooden-sarcophagus-mask-late-period-26th-31st-dynasty-c-664-332-bc","provider":"Collectors' Cabin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}