An Egyptian Gilt Cartonnage Mummy Mask

Late Ptolemaic to Early Roman Period, circa 50 BC – AD 50

Cartonnage over wooden core, gilt and painted decoration

57 × 46 cm (22½ × 18 in), mounted on later rectangular wooden plinth

A striking funerary mask from the twilight of dynastic Egypt, this piece exemplifies the fusion of traditional Egyptian iconography with Roman-era stylistic restraint. The stylised human face, framed by a boldly striped headdress, evokes divine protection and eternal identity. Gilt detailing and polychrome ornamentation reflect the enduring power of Osirian and solar theology, while the frontal gaze and symmetrical composition affirm the presence of the deceased.

Originally part of a full cartonnage ensemble, the mask would have adorned the upper portion of a mummified body, serving both protective and symbolic functions in the journey to the afterlife.

Provenance: Acquired by Albert Newall, Esq. in South Africa in the 1950s; thence by descent to

The Peter Newall Collection