Mummy Mask of Kay-neferwy
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Period
- New Kingdom, c.1550–1069 BCE
- Dynasty
- Dynasty 19, 1292–1186 BCE
- Date
- 1295–1186 BCE
- from
- Memphis, Al-Jizah governorate, Egypt, Africa
- Classification
- Masks, sculpture
- Collection
- Ancient Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 313
- Dimensions
- 21 1/16 x 14 9/16 x 9 3/4 in. (53.5 x 37 x 24.7 cm)
- Credit Line
- Friends Endowment Fund and funds given by Mr. and Mrs. Christian B. Peper, Mrs. Drew Philpott, the Longmire Fund of the Saint Louis Community Foundation, The Arthur and Helen Baer Charitable Foundation, an anonymous donor, Gary Wolff, Mrs. Marjorie M. Getty, by exchange, Florence Heiman in memory of her husband, Theodore Heiman, Ellen D. Thompson, by exchange, Dr. and Mrs. G. R. Hansen, Sid Goldstein in memory of Donna and Earl Jacobs, Friends Endowment Fund, by exchange, and Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 19:1998
NOTES
Superheroes wear masks to alter their identities. The mask of Kay-neferwy served a similar function: to transform the deceased into a divine being after death. This mask is an idealized representation rather than a true likeness or portrait. Kay-neferwy’s elaborate crown with colored glass inlays and broad collar necklace are accessories fit for a queen. Her wig is precisely groomed—not a hair is out of place. Also note the small scene on her crossed wrists. Rendered with careful detail, it depicts Kay-neferwy kneeling before Osiris, king of the dead, while riding in a boat that will take her to the afterlife.
Provenance
1951/1952 -
Mohammed Zakaria Goneim, excavated at Saqqara, Egypt [1]
by 1952 -
Unknown Dealer, Brussels, Belgium [2]
- early 1960s
Kaloterna Collection [3]
early 1960s -
Private Collection, Switzerland, acquired from Kaloterna collection [4]
by 1997 - 1998
Phoenix Art, S.A. (Hicham Aboutaam), Geneva, Switzerland, purchased from private collection [5]
1998/03/30 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Phoenix Ancient Art, S.A. [6]
Notes:
[1] Excavated by Mohammed Zakaria Goneim, Keeper of the Antiquities of Saqqara, at Saqqara, during his first season (1951-1952) at the site [Goneim, Mohammed Zakaria,"Excavations at Saqqara; Horus Sekhem-Khet, the Unfinished Step Pyramid at Saqqara." Vol. 1. Cairo: Imprimerie de L'Institut Français D'Archéologie Orientale, 1957].
A letter from a scholar, dated December 12, 1999, indicates that the other objects from the Saqqara excavation group were displayed together in the Cairo Museum, suggesting that they were put on display right after Goneim's excavation. The scholar suggests that the mask was never displayed with the other excavated objects and was probably awarded to the excavator himself. This would correspond with its appearance on the European art market soon after its excavation [SLAM document files].
[2] In a letter dated February 11, 1997, Charly Mathez confirms that he saw the mask in a gallery in Brussels in 1952. According to a letter dated October 5, 1999, he did not remember the name of the gallery [SLAM document files].
[3] In a letter dated March 19, 1998, Hicham Aboutaam indicated that an anonymous Swiss collector acquired the mask from the Kaloterna (possibly Kaliterna) family. In a letter of July 2, 1997, addressed to Hicham Aboutaam, the Swiss collector stated that this acquisition took place in the early 1960s [SLAM document files]. The name "Kaloterna" may be a misspelling of the common Croatian name "Kaliterna." The Swiss collector also had an address in Croatia, and it is possible that the collector became acquainted with the Kaloterna (or Kaliterna) family there.
[4] See note [3]. The Swiss collector requested anonymity.
[5] The Swiss collector's letter of July 2, 1997 confirms the sale of the mask to Aboutaam [SLAM document files]. Aboutaam also states that the mask was in the United States from 1995 until 1997, possibly indicating that it was in the possession of the New York branch of Phoenix Ancient Art, S.A. during that time [letter, September 23, 1997, SLAM document files].
[6] Invoice to the Saint Louis Art Museum dated March 12, 1998 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, March 18, 1998.
Mohammed Zakaria Goneim, excavated at Saqqara, Egypt [1]
by 1952 -
Unknown Dealer, Brussels, Belgium [2]
- early 1960s
Kaloterna Collection [3]
early 1960s -
Private Collection, Switzerland, acquired from Kaloterna collection [4]
by 1997 - 1998
Phoenix Art, S.A. (Hicham Aboutaam), Geneva, Switzerland, purchased from private collection [5]
1998/03/30 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Phoenix Ancient Art, S.A. [6]
Notes:
[1] Excavated by Mohammed Zakaria Goneim, Keeper of the Antiquities of Saqqara, at Saqqara, during his first season (1951-1952) at the site [Goneim, Mohammed Zakaria,"Excavations at Saqqara; Horus Sekhem-Khet, the Unfinished Step Pyramid at Saqqara." Vol. 1. Cairo: Imprimerie de L'Institut Français D'Archéologie Orientale, 1957].
A letter from a scholar, dated December 12, 1999, indicates that the other objects from the Saqqara excavation group were displayed together in the Cairo Museum, suggesting that they were put on display right after Goneim's excavation. The scholar suggests that the mask was never displayed with the other excavated objects and was probably awarded to the excavator himself. This would correspond with its appearance on the European art market soon after its excavation [SLAM document files].
[2] In a letter dated February 11, 1997, Charly Mathez confirms that he saw the mask in a gallery in Brussels in 1952. According to a letter dated October 5, 1999, he did not remember the name of the gallery [SLAM document files].
[3] In a letter dated March 19, 1998, Hicham Aboutaam indicated that an anonymous Swiss collector acquired the mask from the Kaloterna (possibly Kaliterna) family. In a letter of July 2, 1997, addressed to Hicham Aboutaam, the Swiss collector stated that this acquisition took place in the early 1960s [SLAM document files]. The name "Kaloterna" may be a misspelling of the common Croatian name "Kaliterna." The Swiss collector also had an address in Croatia, and it is possible that the collector became acquainted with the Kaloterna (or Kaliterna) family there.
[4] See note [3]. The Swiss collector requested anonymity.
[5] The Swiss collector's letter of July 2, 1997 confirms the sale of the mask to Aboutaam [SLAM document files]. Aboutaam also states that the mask was in the United States from 1995 until 1997, possibly indicating that it was in the possession of the New York branch of Phoenix Ancient Art, S.A. during that time [letter, September 23, 1997, SLAM document files].
[6] Invoice to the Saint Louis Art Museum dated March 12, 1998 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, March 18, 1998.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.