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Central part of a mummy cartonnage

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Object number
AR2767
Object: Painted central part of a mummy cartonnage

Material: Cartonnage made of painted pieces of linen.

Period: Ptolemaic period of Ancient Egypt,
332 BC to 30 BC.

Description:    Central part of a mummy cartonnage, richly painted in red, yellow, blue, green and black on white stucco base. The cartonnage piece was cut out in a D-shape.
It depicts the four sons of Horus grouped in two pairs, seated and facing each other. From left to right Duamutef, Amset, Hapi and Kebeh-senu-ef. They are painted on a naos shaped pectoral, i.e. a piece of jewellery lying upon the breast shaped like the facade of a temple. The pectoral is adorned by a U-shaped ornamental strip forming a wide collar (usech). A falcon with sun disc is above each end of the U shape. The collar can be interpreted to resemble the falcon wing of Horus. That was a symbol of protection for the king in older Egyptian times and later reinterpreted as a protection for all mortals. A scarab spreading wings with a sun disc above its head is painted above the central pectoral. It is a depiction of the goddess Khepri, who is an aspect of the sun god Ra, representing the rising morning sun. It reflects the hope of the deceased to be reborn.
This pectoral is still a thrilling piece of funerary art because of the lively colours preserved in the dry desert climate of Egypt. A wonderful example of the ptolemaic style.

Dimensions: 28cm height, 37cm width.

Condition: Colours in fantastic condition, well preserved motive. The surface has cracks and the cartonnage is brittle. This has lead to some small chips over the last centuries.

Provenance: Acquired in 2016 in a British auction house. Previously in the private collection MacMillan. Acquired into the collection in the 1970ies or earlier.

References: Cf. Ruth Brech, Spätägyptische Särge aus Achmim, Aegyptiaca Hamburgensia, Band 3 (Gladbeck, 2008), page 312.
The dating and interpretation of the cartonnage have been made in 2017 by Professor Kurth, Emeritus for Egyptology at Hamburg University. A publication of this cartonnage is planned for his book "Hausgrabungen, Band 3 (Aegyptiaca in deutschem Privatbesitz)".

Literature: For a study of the underlying Egyptian funerary traditions we recommend to read Jan Assmann, Lexikon der Ägyptologie, Band VI, pages 659-676.

Authenticity: We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.