The mask on pl. X is 6½ inches high and 6¼ inches wide. It is quite
similar to the one last described, but lacks the encircling lower
marginal band. The outer zone is of light turquois, with zones of a
darker shade toward the center. There are traces of red paint above the
mouth and in the spaces on each side of the nose. On the left temple
are the remains of a black disc of the same material as on the other
mask.
The right section of the mask on pl. XI is 7¼ inches in height. The
turquois incrustation is light-blue in color. There are traces of red
paint above the mouth. The black composition inlay on the temple is
square, and contains a biconical depression which does not pass through
the wood. Around the eye is a raised design, possibly a serpent’s body.
The entire lower zone is at present without decoration, and possibly
was never covered with mosaic.
The mask fragment on pl. XII is 7⅜ inches high. The small section of
mosaic remaining on the forehead is dark-blue, while that on the rest
of the face is light-blue. There is a black composition disc on the
temple, and traces of red paint above the mouth. The marking on the
plain surface on the forehead appears to be ancient.
We now come to the other group. On pl. XIII is a mask 6⅜ inches high
and 5¾ inches wide. A portion of the chin still remains, with mosaic
decoration, indicating that the missing chins in the other masks were
probably thus embellished. In general appearance this specimen differs
widely from those just described. The pieces used in the mosaic are
rougher in shape and larger. A few bits of bright-green turquois are
found on the forehead, but the rest of the incrustation is a stone of a
brownish- or grayish-green color. The distinctive feature is the band
which encircles the forehead, running downward and ending at the sides
of the nose. It is of black composition, but is highly polished, and
there are pieces of light-brown color. Traces of red paint appear above
the mouth.
The mask on pl. XIV is 6¾ inches high and 5¼ inches wide. It lacks the
chin, but still retains a goodly part of the mosaic. This specimen is
somewhat different in treatment from the others, closely resembling
in technique the mask fragment which follows on pl. XV. The mass of
incrustation is outlined by a band of single light brownish-gray
stones. The forehead has a mosaic of blackish and dark-green stones,
the same effect being seen on each side of the plain space at the
sides of the nose, merging into lighter zones on the cheeks. Red paint
is above the mouth and on the spaces at the side of and below the nose.
This mask had a tin band or plate over the missing chin. The space
above the eyes is coated black, the material being probably obtained by
thinning the black composition into a coarse paint by the addition of
melted gum or wax. Two black composition discs are on the temples.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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