A RARE GILT-COPPER DEATH MASK, LIAO DYNASTY China, 907-1125. The thinly beaten copper sheet subtly modeled to the contours of a man's face, chased with a mouth, nose and rounded cheeks, with incised lines highlighting the closed and sunken eyes, elegantly swung brows and raised mouth, the large ears embossed neatly and protruding from each side of the face, two small holes at the nose and tiny attachment holes all around the edges, the outer surface gilded and with malachite-green encrustations overall. Provenance: From a private collection in London, United Kingdom. By repute purchased in London 29th August, 2003. Condition: Fine condition with some losses mostly around the edges, wear and traces of use, patina and encrustations, minor warping, the backside covered overall in a dense malachite-green patina. Scientific Report: Oxford Authentication Bronze Analysis Report, Sample No: R2073, from 12 October 2002, and respective conclusion by Dr. Peter Northover, states: "Both composition and microstructure, including corrosion, are consistent with a Liao date." Weight: 286.7 g Dimensions: Height 23.4 cm Funerary masks are associated with the burial culture of the Qidan Liao and many examples made of bronze, silver sheet or gilt bronze 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, dated 1018. Similarly made of thin hammered gold sheet, they are supposed to realistically portray some their owners' facial features. With a modern plexiglass support. (2) Literature comparison: 'The Liao Dynasty tomb of a Prince and Princess of the Chen Kingdom', Zhu Qixinin, 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. Also see similar examples in the Musee Guimet, Paris, reference no. MA2352, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2012-53-1. Auction result comparison: Compare with a closely related burial mask at Sotheby's London in Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver, 14 May 2008, lot 92, sold for GBP £26,900. 罕見銅鎏金面具，遼代 中國，907-1125。由薄金片捶鏨而成，依據真人樣貌，濃眉厚唇，鼻樑高挺，雙目緊閉。周邊有穿孔，供連綴之用。表面鎏金，有孔雀石綠色結殼。 來源：英國倫敦私人收藏。據説購於2003年8月29日于倫敦。 品相：品相良好，主要在邊緣有些缺損，磨損和使用痕跡，包漿和結殼，輕微翹曲，背面覆蓋著緻密的孔雀石綠銅綠。 科學鑑定報告：牛津鑑定實驗室於2002年10月12日的報告說明"成分和微觀結構，包括腐蝕，與遼時期相符"。 重量：286.7 克 尺寸：高23.4 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件相似的面具于倫敦蘇富比《Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver》，2008年5月14日，拍號 92，成交價GBP £26.900。