664–343 B.C. Late Dynastic / Ptolemaic Egyptian. Beaded mummy mask made of delicate faience beads in green, white, black and red. The face is highly stylised with large trapezoidal eyes, long thin brows, a broad, undetailed nose, a small mouth, slightly parted to reveal white teeth and lozenge shaped protruding ears. Beaded mummy masks of this type became popular during the Late Period in Egypt and were probably meant to be representations of the god Osiris, as evidenced by the green skin tone, instead of naturalistic portraits of the deceased as was more common in painted wooden masks. All mummy 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:140mm / W:145mm ; 55g; Provenance: Private London collection, formed in the 1980-90s on the UK and European art market.