Mummy Mask

Cartonnage mask for placing over the head of a mummy. The style is typical of the type found on New Kingdom mummies at Deir el Medina. Previously part of the Wellcome Collection and glued to a mount. There are large patches of surface loss. Within the organics conservation department are a set of paint samples embedded in resin ready for analysis from previous work carried out in 1993/4 when flaking paint was consolidated but gaps were not infilled as it was not required for display at the time. Conserved for display in 2017. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Crazed surface, areas of surface loss, label adhered to surface, incomplete. Wellcome Historical Medical Museumaccession no. 61497: MUMMY MASK Cartonnage, painted, black wig, head painted with conventional design. 10½" high 8½" wide. Somewhat damaged. Egyptian. Recorded as being bought at Stevens's Auction Rooms, London, 18 July 1924 (Amherst Collection) Lot 412". However, this seems be an error and the actual source is Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd., 18 & 19 July 1922, lot 412: "Three mummy masks, a sandal, and other cartonnage, from Egypt, Amherst Collection".