RARE FUNERAL MASK The eyebrows and eyes are openwork, indicating that this mask must have covered the head of a statuette made of another material, given the deposits around the left eye. The face is characterised by well-defined features; a short, pronounced nose with a very well-defined nasal bridge. The face is characterised by well-defined features: a short, pronounced nose with a well-defined nasal bridge, a mouth that reveals a slight smile, finely hemmed lips and a very prominent chin. These features suggest a particular physiognomy, with certain Egyptian characteristics - the more refined treatment of the eyebrows and eyes (fig.1,Musée du Louvre, AF 129), the stylised features of contemporary oriental representations (fig.2) and which would later appear in Assyria and Elam (fig.3-4 Metropolitan Museum, Accession Number: 62.269.2; 52.23.5). Embossed. Gold plate. Height 10 cm Near East, circa 14th-13th century BC A Near-Eastern gold sheet embossed Funerary Mask. Depicting a male face. The eyebrows, as well as the eyes, are openwork indicating that this mask was to cover the head of a statuette in another material given the deposits present around the left eye. The face is characterised by well-defined features; a short and pronounced nose whose nasal bridge is very well enhanced. The mouth has a slight smile, the lips are finely lined, the chin is very prominent. These features refer to the appearance of composite Assyrian figurines.(cf.Fig.1 - Iraq National Museum, museum number not known, excavation number ND 2250. fig.2- Metropolitan Museum, Accession Number: 52.23.5). circa 14th-13th century B.C.E. Provenance E. Borowski, Basel, 1970s Rassla Foundation, Zurich