1070-664 BC. Egyptian, Third Intermediate Period. A beautiful painted mummy mask comprising wooden base coated with gesso and then painted. The mask depicts a young man with ochre skin, almond shaped eyes, a slim nose and full lips wearing a head dress with green and black alternating bands and a false beard with yellow and black alternating bands. Masks of this type were popular in Ancient Egypt and likely had both a decorative and symbolic role as the burial of the dead in Ancient Egypt was an elaborate and ritualised process. Their wide variety of faces makes it likely that these masks were stylised and idealised portraits of the deceased individual. Sarcophagus masks served an elaborate and important role in Egyptian funerary ritual as they served to protect the deceased’s face and head in their travels to the underworld, and in some cases helped to elevate the deceased to a god-like status through adoptions of godly attributes such as blue or gold skin. Good condition; Size: L:220mm / W:104mm ; 205g; Provenance: property of a Central London Gallery, acquired by a British private collector, formerly in the private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in 2001; ex-Edgar L. Owen, Ltd., Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, USA.