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Sable De Paradis

Roman Egyptian Plaster Male Portrait Mask

Roman Egyptian Plaster Male Portrait Mask

Dhs. 96,000.00 AED
Dhs. 96,000.00 AED
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Born in the UAE

Made with Artificial Intelligence

Circa 1st to 2nd Century AD

A beautiful naturalistic head of a nobel young man in an incredible state of preservation with inlaid eyes, prominent nose,  brow ridge, and stippled hair. A high cloak evident on neck. The wide-open eyes are inlaid with contrasting black-and-white glass components making them really come alive.


The naturalistic appearance of this man is in keeping with second-century trends in all kinds of funerary portraiture, and the tendency of masks of the time to adopt Roman-style facial features and hair more consistently than before has been observed.

Size 7 ½ in. (19 cm.) high + custom base.


Compare similar examples in Ancient Faces; Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt by Susan Walker and Morris Bierbrier, British Museum, nos 132 & 134. 

Provenance: George Lois (1931-2022) and Rosemary Lois (1930-2022), New York, acquired from Charles D. Kelekian (1900-1982), New York.  Old collection number "890" penned in black ink to the back of the neck.

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The Gaze of Eternity

The young man’s face emerges from the past, his inlaid eyes wide and piercing, capturing a moment frozen in time. Nearly two thousand years ago, in the wake of Rome’s influence on Egypt, noble families sought to preserve their loved ones beyond death—not only in memory but in form. This head, carved with remarkable realism, adorned a funerary setting where the living and the departed remained bound by gaze alone. The high cloak draped over the neck, the stippled hair, and the meticulous Roman-style features speak to an era where Egyptian tradition met the grandeur of imperial Rome. To look upon him now is to stand in the presence of history itself, where craftsmanship defied time, and the dead still watch the world they once knew.

A Portrait of Roman Egypt

Dating circa 1st to 2nd century AD, this exquisite funerary head embodies the evolving artistic traditions of Roman Egypt. As burial practices embraced more naturalistic portraiture, elite families commissioned lifelike masks and sculpted heads to preserve the essence of their loved ones. The inlaid glass eyes, a hallmark of second-century craftsmanship, create an arresting realism, while the noble brow ridge, prominent nose, and stylized hair reflect Roman influence over Egyptian funerary art. Standing 7 ½ inches (19 cm) high, plus its custom base, this artifact is exceptionally well-preserved, a testament to the skill of ancient artisans and the enduring legacy of those immortalized in stone. A true museum-quality piece, once part of the esteemed George and Rosemary Lois collection, it echoes the artistic mastery found in British Museum references (nos. 132 & 134, Ancient Faces; Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt)—a rare and powerful relic of antiquity.