1. Cartonnage Mask of a High Official

Description:

The use of a cartonnage mask is one of the most characteristic features of ancient Egyptian burial customs. Such masks covered the head and the upper part of the chest of a mummified person. Generally, they consist of layers of linen and gypsum that could be molded to the shape of the deceased. Finally, each mask was painted in bright colors. Because of their fragility, relatively few cartonnage masks of the Middle Kingdom have survived in as good a state of preservation as this one. The face is rendered in a formal, stylized way, giving it a somewhat stiff expression. Even so, some details are indicated: the bristles of the full beard, the mustache, and the eyebrows, all stippled in black over a blue ground. The man wears a voluminous wig with long, rounded ends, which are neatly rimmed with a decorative border. A broad collar composed of many rows of beads features falcon-headed terminals, which are held in position by strings emerging from under the wig on the mask's back. In addition, a simple necklace with a large pearl completes his adornment. But most striking is the richly ornamented diadem with a floral motif over the forehead. The model for this diadem was gold and silver, inlaid with semiprecious stones like carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise. Although the original burial spot of the Walters' mask is not known, its general style and details undoubtedly indicate that it came from the necropolis at Asyut. At this important site, the capital of the 13th district of Upper Egypt, a French mission as well as the Egyptian nobleman Sayed Khashaba Pascha conducted intensive archaeological excavations during the early 20th century. Many rock-cut tombs belonging to the courtiers of the Asyut nomarchs (the rulers of the nome) were found untouched and still contained their original grave goods. This mask was probably discovered during the poorly documented Khashaba excavation, which left no records about related objects found in the tomb, including the coffin of the deceased with its inscriptions. Without records of his titles and name, the identity of the owner of this mask must remain a mystery.For the latest information about this object, mummy masks, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 11th-early 12th DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:

2. Cartonnage Mask of a Woman

Description:

Funerary masks of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods often had gilded faces that reflected the association of the deceased with the gods. This mask has been molded over a core, with layers of mud and linen. The decoration was applied in layers, with the gilding at the end. The eye inlays are made from glass, as well as the blue scarab on the top of the head and the ibis inside of a pectoral on the chest. The scarab has gilded wings which stretch down to the sides of the wig. Above the forehead is a frieze of uraeus serpents with sun-disks on their heads. At the right and left frontal ends of the wig are recumbent jackals. A golden collar with five rows of rosettes and geometric patterns adorns the mask, suspended from which two kneeling goddesses flank the pectoral with an ibis. The goddesses may be identified as Isis and Nephthys, each with a sun-disk on her head and a feather-fan in one hand. Cartonnage masks were used to protect and idealize the facial features of the deceased. The golden face of this mask shows no signs of age, gender, or emotions. The eyebrows, nose, mouth, chin, and ears are very well modeled, but without color accents. The motif ensemble of the mask symbolizes protection (uraeus serpents, jackals), general renewal (scarab-beetle), and divine support to pass the court of death (Thoth-ibis, goddesses) and to be renewed in the afterlife amongst the deities (reflected in the golden color of the face).For the latest information about this object, mummy cases; masks, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: late Ptolemaic Dynasty (?)Inscriptions: Reign: Style:

3. Mummified Cat

Description:

Priests oversaw the rituals, mummifications, funerals, and burials of sacred temple animals. By the mid-1st millennium BC, people were encouraged to pay for the mummification as a sacred offering to the related deity. A cat mummy would be offered to a feline deity, such as Bastet. This was a lucrative business, and "false" mummies were sometimes created to meet the demand. Actually, this is one of those: X-rays show that there is nothing inside the wrappings.For the latest information about this object, mummies, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ptolemaic DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:

4. Mummified Cat

Description:

Since the Late Period the Egyptians gave animal mummies as gifts to the gods. These animals were bred near the temples. The largest amount of cat mummies was gifted to the goddess Bastet at her ritual center, Bubastis, in the eastern Delta of Egypt. Some cat mummies were exported to Europe in the 19th century for use as fertilizer. This cat mummy was carefully wrapped in linen strips. The x-ray of the mummy shows its neck intact, with the forelegs pressed down against the body and hind legs folded together.For the latest information about this object, mummies, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 30th-Ptolemaic DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:

5. Mummified Human Remains of a Woman

Description:

Mummification preserved mortal remains in order to house the Ka, or life force of the individual, as it needed to return to the body to find sustenance. The human-shaped covering, called "cartonnage," is composed of layers of linen and plaster. Its painted decoration includes the floral wreath on the wig, a broad collar, and a winged scarab beetle. Five additional registers of decoration show the protective four sons of Horus, the sacred boat of the funerary-deity Sokar, a mummy of Osiris on a funerary bed, a divine falcon god, and a short hieroglyphic text with an offering formula. See the additional media for a facial reconstruction of the mummy, courtesy of Michael Brassell, as well as a color reconstruction of the cartonnage.For the latest information about this object, mummies, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 2nd half 22nd-23rd DynastyInscriptions: [Translation] The king gives an offering to Osiris.Reign: Style:

6. Mummified Human Remains of a Woman Inside a Painted Cartonnage

Description:

Mummification preserved mortal remains in order to house the Ka, or life force of the individual, as it needed to return to the body to find sustenance. The human-shaped covering, called "cartonnage," is composed of layers of linen and plaster. Its painted decoration includes the floral wreath on the wig, a broad collar, and a winged scarab beetle. Five additional registers of decoration show the protective four sons of Horus, the sacred boat of the funerary-deity Sokar, a depiction of Osiris mummified on a funerary bed, a divine falcon god, and a short hieroglyphic text with an offering formula. See the additional media for a facial reconstruction of the deceased person, courtesy of Michael Brassell, as well as a color reconstruction of the cartonnage.For the latest information about this object, mummies, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 2nd half 22nd-23rd DynastyInscriptions: [Translation] The king gives an offering to Osiris.Reign: Style:

7. Painted Cartonnage

Description:

Mummification preserved mortal remains in order to house the Ka, or life force of the individual, as it needed to return to the body to find sustenance. The human-shaped covering, called "cartonnage," is composed of layers of linen and plaster. Its painted decoration includes the floral wreath on the wig, a broad collar, and a winged scarab beetle. Five additional registers of decoration show the protective four sons of Horus, the sacred boat of the funerary-deity Sokar, a mummy of Osiris on a funerary bed, a divine falcon god, and a short hieroglyphic text with an offering formula. See the additional media for a facial reconstruction of the mummy, courtesy of Michael Brassell, as well as a color reconstruction of the cartonnage.For the latest information about this object, cartonnage, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 2nd half 22nd-23rd DynastyInscriptions: [Translation] The king gives an offering to Osiris.Reign: Style:

8. Pair of Eyes

Description:

This set of two objects are a pair of composite, over life-size eyes that would most likely have been inserted into a stone or wooden statue. These separately made eyes, combining several different materials to represent the anatomy and coloration of human eyes. The copper alloy section also creates the extended cosmetic eye line frequently found in Egyptian art. The copper alloy surrounds in the form of cosmetic eye lines taper toward the back, which would have been inserted into a figural sculpture.For the latest information about this object, mummy mask, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:

9. Ushabti

Description:

This ushabti figure has long black hair with red lines across the ends. It has red necklaces and folded arms. In the right arm is a hoe, and in the left is a mattock. Behind each shoulder is a sack. There is an inscription in blue in horizontal bands on the front and the sides. The inscription bands are divided by red lines. The piece has a base. The authenticity of this piece has been questioned.For the latest information about this object, ushabti; figurines; statuettes, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:

10. Ushabti Figure of Psamtik

Description:

The long inscription on the mummiform body of the figure contains the ushabti spell from the Book of the Dead, the name Psamtik, and his title, "chief royal scribe," as well as the name of his mother, Merit-Neith.For the latest information about this object, ushabti; figurines; statuettes, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 26th DynastyInscriptions: [Inscription, standard shawabti formula] for the chief royal scribe Psamtik, born of Mer-NeitReign: Style: