A Painted Egyptian Coffin for a Man, Third Intermediate Period (c. 1069-656 B.C.E.) or Roman (c. 30 B.C.E.-642 C.E.)
The goal of this conservation treatment was to stabilize the coffin so that it could be safely packed for a move to a temporary storage location. The painted cartonnage (layers of linen covered in plaster) on the wood surface of the coffin was in particularly fragile condition and required extensive stabilization. The coffin surface was also gently cleaned, revealing brighter colors and a pencil inscription possibly from the seller or buyer of the object.
Images courtesy of the Archaeological Collection at the Johns Hopkins University, Will Kirk and Bonsai Fine Arts, Inc. Treatment photographs by S. Balachandran.
Examining the painted cartonnage on the coffin before treatment.
Overall view of the coffin, before treatment.
Left image: Detailed view of some of the damage to the coffin, before treatment.
Right image: Detailed view of some of the damage to the coffin, before treatment.
Left image: Detail of coffin, after cleaning and stabilization.
Right image: Detail of Japanese tissue paper reinforcements used to adhere damaged cartonnage in place.
Left image: Overall view, after cleaning and stabilization.
Right image: The coffin as packed in a crate designed by Bonsai Fine Arts, Inc.