Child's Mummy Case
Culture
Ancient Egyptian
DateRoman Period, 32 BCE–200 CE
Mediumcartonnage
Dimensions104.8 x 31.1 x 24.1 cm (41 1/4 x 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineMuseum Acquisition
Terms
Object number2000.49
Label TextThis coffin for a child, dating from the third century A.D., represents the end of a very long funerary tradition in Egypt. As a late example, it shows the incorporation of Hellenistic traditions of more naturalistic representation within the vocabulary of Egyptian art. Preservation of the body was very important in the concept of the after-life in Egyptian religion; the perfection of this funerary art became a major concern in the early Pharaonic period. Basically the technique seems to have been to dehydrate the body, after the brain and viscera were removed, by using natron, a natural compound of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. After the body was treated, it was wrapped in linen bandages and placed in a series of coffins. Mummy-shaped cases were usually made of wood, or as this one, of cartonnage, which is composed of layers of linen coated with plaster and molded to shape. In accordance with tradition, this coffin is painted with the common design of the goddess Isis spreading her wings to protect the body of her husband, Osiris, the dead king of the Underworld, and other symbolic religious scenes.ProvenanceSource unknown - object file shows consistent documentation since the 1930s-1980s that the object was considered part of the permanent collection, however no clear accession number was associated with the object. Therefore, a new number was assigned to the work in 2000.On View
On view
