egypt-museum:

Gold Mask of Psusennes I

In this gold mask mummy cover, Psusennes I appears with the royal headdress surmounted by the uraeus, or royal cobra. He wears a divine plaited false beard.

The mask is made of two pieces of beaten gold, soldered and joined together by five nails that can be seen from the back. The king wears the royal Nemes headdress, usually made of linen, surmounted by the sacred uraeus, the royal cobra. This protected the king against his opponents and enemies in life and after death.

The king wears a divine plaited false beard, which is the symbol of dignity. He also wears a broad Usekh collar incised with floral decorations. The inlays of the eyelids and eyebrows and the straps fixing the beard are of glass paste. The eyes are made of black and white stone.

Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, reign of Psusennes I, ca. 1047-1001 BC. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 85913