A SILVER FUNERARY MASK LIAO DYNASTY

formed from a sheet of thinly beaten silver and faithfully modelled to the contours of a face, the stylised eyebrows with fine striations, the eyes closed and sunken, the nose long and straight above a thin-lipped, slightly opened mouth, the large ears worked separately and protruding from each side of the face, covered with malachite-green patination

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 146.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 146.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 145.

There is a hairline crack running aross the chin below the mouth (just visible in the catalogue illustration). There is a V-shaped crack running down from the upper rim towards the eyebrow. Small areas of loss to the metal on the rims of both ears (visible in the catalogue illustration). There is a hole (ca. 0.3cm) just above the masks left eye (visible in the catalogue illustration). The surface shows green patination and very light overall traces of wear consistent with age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Funerary masks are associated with the burial culture of the Qidan Liao and many examples made of bronze, gilt bronze or silver sheet such as the present example have been found in tombs of the Liao elite in Inner Mongolia. Two impressive gold funerary masks were discovered in the royal tomb of the Prince and Princess of Chen at ? , dated 1018. Similarly made of thin hammered gold sheet, they are supposed to realistically portray some their owners' facial features. Compare Zhu Qixinin, 'The Liao Dynasty tomb of a Prince and Princess of the Chen Kingdom', Orientations, October 1991, fig. 11. For another example made in gilt bronze sheet and excavated from a Liao tomb at Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, see The Silk Road in Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 18.