Scott No: 3141-42
Serial number:2001-20
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Date of issue: 12th October 2001
Designer: Wang Huming, Saeid El-Badrawy
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation:12
Sheet composition: 18
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This stamp set, Ancient Gold Mask Heads, was issued on October 12, 2001. It is a special stamp set consisting of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan. The designers are Wang Huming of China and Said Badrawi of Egypt. It was printed using photogravure by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The perforation gauge is 12 degrees, and each stamp measures 50×30 mm. It is a joint issue between China and Egypt.

This stamp set features representative gold mask artifacts from two great ancient civilizations, China and Egypt. Both artifacts were created more than three thousand years ago. Through stamps, it showcases the brilliant achievements of the ancient Shu civilization and ancient Egyptian civilization, bears witness to the cultural dialogue between these two great ancient civilizations, and reflects the unique aesthetics and superb gold craftsmanship of different ancient civilizations.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Sanxingdui Gold Mask Head

The artifact was unearthed from Pit No. 1 at Sanxingdui in Guanghan, Sichuan. It belongs to the ancient Shu civilization of the Shang Dynasty and is now housed in the Sanxingdui Museum. This bronze human head has a mask made of thin gold foil attached to its face. The gold foil was adhered to the surface of the bronze head using lacquer and lime as adhesives. The eyebrows and eyes are hollowed out, and the eyes are exaggerated, slanting, and elongated. It has large ears and a wide mouth, with a mysterious and majestic appearance. The ancient Shu civilization of Sanxingdui was a brilliant ancient civilization in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This gold mask head was used in major sacrificial rituals, reflecting the unique deity worship of the ancient Shu people and proving that the Yangtze River basin was also an important birthplace of Chinese civilization. The stamp fully presents this gold mask bronze head, simple and substantial, full of mysterious ancient Shu atmosphere.

Tutankhamun Gold Mask Head

This gold mask is a burial object of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Tutankhamun of ancient Egypt, dating back more than 3,300 years. It was unearthed from Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt, and is now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In 1922, archaeologists excavated this almost undisturbed pharaoh's tomb, and this gold mask reappeared. The mask is made of pure gold and inlaid with gemstones such as lapis lazuli and glass. The forehead is decorated with the symbols of the eagle and cobra, representing the royal power of Upper and Lower Egypt. The striped headdress is richly layered. Tutankhamun ascended the throne young and died early. This mask is the pinnacle representative of ancient Egyptian gold craftsmanship and carving art and is the world's most famous ancient Egyptian artifact. The stamp meticulously reproduces the mask's magnificent decorations and gemstone textures, fully displaying the solemnity and splendor of the ancient Egyptian royal family.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a realistic artifact photography style. The background uses a deep, dark tone to maximize the metallic luster of the gold masks. The two stamps echo each other: one is simple and mysterious, the other is ornate and exquisite, representing the ancient Shu civilization of the East and the ancient Egyptian civilization of North Africa respectively. The stamps bear the inscription "China–Egypt Joint Issue." The compositions are simple, without extraneous decoration, focusing on presenting the two national treasure-level artifacts themselves. Through the stamps, the artistic treasures of two ancient civilizations are displayed, embodying the dialogue and exchange of civilizations across regions.