The eyes of Tutankhamun’s death mask are inlaid with obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass.
The mask is made primarily of gold and decorated with several contrasting materials. Lapis lazuli forms the eye surrounds and eyebrows, quartz forms the visible whites of the eyes, and obsidian forms the dark pupils. Other inlays include carnelian, turquoise, amazonite, coloured glass and faience.
This division of materials explains a common mix-up: quartz is part of the eyes, but obsidian is the distinctive volcanic glass used for the pupils. Obsidian was prized in Egypt for its deep black colour and glossy surface, qualities that made it effective for representing pupils and other dark details.
The mask was found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Howard Carter’s team discovered the tomb in 1922, but the mask itself was revealed inside the innermost coffin in 1925. It stands about 54 centimetres tall and portrays the young king in the idealized form of Osiris, god of the afterlife.