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Egyptian terracotta fitting: coffin decoration of Medusa. A coffin-attachment of a mask of Medusa with curling hair falling on each side of her face and snakes tied in a Hercules Knot above her brow and below her dimpled chin. The back is concave, with a flattened edge where it came into contact with the wood of the coffin; white plaster adheres to the edge. The face was pressed into a one-piece mould. A white dressing covers most of the front, the hair is painted yellow. The eyes are outlined in brown, and the tear-duct of the left eye is painted pink, as also is the mouth; there is a trace of blue paint below the lowest curl of hair. Brown Nile silt with a dark-grey core and abundant fine gold mica, quartz and white inclusions.
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