Funerary Mask

Object Details

• Label

  This carved face, whose eyes and cosmetic lines are inlaid with glass, was originally attached to a wooden coffin. A square hole cut under the chin was used to attach a ceremonial beard, no longer preserved.

  During the New Kingdom (ca. 1539-1075 B.C.E.), members of the nobility were buried in mummy-shaped coffins made of wood with attached carved faces. This face most closely resembles examples dated to Dynasties 18 and 19 (ca. 1539-1190 B.C.E.), and was probably also made during that period.

• Provenance

  To 1909

  Maurice Nahman (1868-1948), Cairo, Egypt, to 1909 [1]

  From 1909 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Maurice Nahman in 1909 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 162, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (Teaser) (October 21, 2022 - January 2, 2023)

  The Nile and Ancient Egypt (December 7, 2013 to January 3, 2016)

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

  Art of Dynastic Egypt (December 15, 1976 to September 22, 1977)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Maurice Nahman (1868-1948) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Mask

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Nahman, Maurice

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Dynasty 19 (ca. 1292 - 1190 BCE), Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Wood, Ancient Egyptian Art, New Kingdom (ca. 1539 - 1075 BCE), Dynasty 18 (ca. 1539 - 1295 BCE)

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Masks

• On View

  Yes