Rare Roman Egyptian Painted Stucco Mummy Mask

Originates from: Egypt  

Era: 1st Century BCE - 1st Century AD

Dimensions: 5.5” H x 3” W x 2” D (on stand), 4.5” H x 3” W x 2” D (mask)

An extremely beautiful and very scarce painted stucco mummy mask, dating to the early Roman Egyptian period, 1st Century BCE - 1st Century AD. A small but masterpiece level example retaining stunning levels of it’s painted detail both across the well formed curls of the hair as well as the beautifully expressive eyes. Left side of the face showing wear but the majority of the face and all of the detailing, from the formation of the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as the hair, has taken almost no loss. 

After the Roman conquest of Egypt, lower Egypt adopted Roman funerary practices like panel paintings of the deceased, while middle Egypt held onto typical Egyptian funerary practice with the forming of stucco masks. Only around 1200 stucco masks from the Roman period are known today. 

Displayed on contemporary custom built iron stand. 

Provenance: Estate of a Private Collection, New York, primarily formed in the 1970s-1990s, Freeman’s Chicago.