Provenance:
Drouot Estimations, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, Vente Classique, 10 June 2016, Lot 6.

In ancient Egypt, death masks were made in the likeness of the deceased so that the soul could recognize its body and return to it in the afterlife. From carved wood to cartonnage (a material made from papyrus or linen and soaked in plaster), artisans used different materials and techniques to create these masks. Royal death masks, perhaps the most famous being that of Tutankhamen, were made from precious metals. Although these masks were intended to resemble the deceased subject, the eyes were typically enlarged and lips together to make a subtle smile.