Facebook
sprite-icon-instagram
Twitter
sprite-icon-wechat
Weibo
X
sprite-icon-youtube
sprite-icon-accessible
Group 3
sprite-icon-arrow
sprite-icon-audio-description
sprite-icon-calendar
sprite-icon-camera
UI/Chevron/Large/Black
sprite-icon-chevron
Artboard 1
sprite-icon-copyright
sprite-icon-data
sprite-icon-download
sprite-icon-grid
sprite-icon-image
i
sprite-icon-list
sprite-icon-magazine
sprite-icon-maximise
sprite-icon-museum
sprite-icon-osd-minus
sprite-icon-osd-plus
Group 6
sprite-icon-pin
sprite-icon-plus
sprite-icon-print
Fill 1
sprite-icon-share
sprite-icon-shop
sprite-icon-tag
sprite-icon-tea
sprite-icon-ten-percent-tag
Artboard 1
sprite-icon-wallet
sprite-icon-zoom
Skip to main content
Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.
Menu
Main navigation
Visit
Toggle Visit submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Visit
—
Visit
—
Family visits
—
Group visits
—
Audio app
—
Out-of-hours tours
—
Tours and talks
—
Object trails
—
Accessibility
—
Food and drink
—
Late opening on Fridays
—
Museum map
Exhibitions and events
Collection
Toggle Collection submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Collection
—
Collection
—
Collection online
—
Galleries
—
Blog
—
The British Museum podcast
Learn
Toggle Learn submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Learn
—
Learn
—
Schools
—
Communities
—
Adult learning
—
Young people
Membership
Toggle Membership submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Membership
—
Membership
—
Members' events
—
Young Friends
—
Existing Members
—
Visiting as a Member
Support us
Toggle Support us submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Support us
—
Donate
—
Corporate support
—
Become a Patron
—
Supporter case studies
—
Become a Volunteer
—
Existing Patrons
—
Leave a legacy
—
American Friends of the British Museum
Secondary navigation
Shop
Search
Donate
Hide menu
Treatment; 21 Apr 2010; Coffin: clean, consolidate gesso, secure plaster and pigments; check and secure splits. Mummy: clean, relay bandage,relocate cartonnage (no easy access for assessment). Subsequent to requisition, several elements may belong to another mummy. Curator requested removal of secondary cartonnage gilded mask to reveal one beneath. HJM 30/3/00 Curator requested removal of entire mummy with both layers of cartonnage trappings 30/3/00; Organics
Header
Treatment
21 Apr 2010
Coffin: clean, consolidate gesso, secure plaster and pigments; check and secure splits. Mummy: clean, relay bandage,relocate cartonnage (no easy access for assessment). Subsequent to requisition, several elements may belong to another mummy. Curator requested removal of secondary cartonnage gilded mask to reveal one beneath. HJM 30/3/00 Curator requested removal of entire mummy with both layers of cartonnage trappings 30/3/00
Organics
Reason
Storage
Description
January 2007 The current treatment campaign was designed around the need to make the coffin stable to move from its current storage in Gallery 60 to the new M4 organics store. This will require the coffin to be handled and tipped to one side. Consolidation of interior mud fill: Consolidation of the vulnerable exposed mud fill in the interior was undertaken in the following way. The acrylic dispersion Medium for Consolidation (MfC) (Lascaux 4176) was found to be the most effective adhesive, working as a binder for the mud particles. The result of treatment was every good if the adhesive was introduced in to the mud but not presented to the surface as this caused darkening. The MfC adhesive is commerically available in 20% solid content and has the added function of very low viscosity and high penetration. Used full strength it was found to be an effective binder / adhesive. The whole area to be treated was first well saturated with White Spirit (composition variable - petroleum distillate). The adhesive was introduced in to the mud fill with a tiny insulin syringe. Access was easy through many of the cracks and holes in the mud. Less than 0.5ml was introduced at any time.The area treated was left to dry, if necessary gentle pressure was applied to the surface with straws, one end tensioned against a brick and the other placed on the treated surface with a release layer of small pieces of dense Plastazote (polyethylene). The dense plastazote reduced the chances of making an impression of the straw end on the soft mud as it dried. This procedure was repeated until the mud was more cohesive. Then, if it was possible and/or necessary, the mud fill was re-attached to the wood substrate by again saturating the mud with white spirit and introducing the same adhesive behind the mud. Pressure was applied with straws until the adhesive dried. It was necessary to apply a very little adhesive a number of times, allowing to dry out between each application. If the area treated was too 'wet' with adhesive the result was darkening of the mud fill. The exterior mud and exposed plaster was in far better condition. It was treated in the same way. Flake laying: The flaking paint on the interior and exterior was re-attached with MfC. The area to be treated was first saturated with white spirit and the MfC adhesive introduced beneath the flake, the flake was pushed down against the plaster layer and /or substrate with a finger wrapped in tissue or cotton wool swab on a wooden skewer and pressure was applied until dry (using straws). This process also consolidated the underlying plaster layer, where it was needed. Consolidation of powdery pink and yellow plaster fill on exterior: The pale colour of this plaster meant that the MfC caused marked darkening in the colour on the surface. Therefore it was deemed not suitable for consoldiation of these parts of the coffin. Tests were carried out to find and alternative. Culminal (nonionic cellulose ether) 50 was found to be the most effective and suitable consolidant. 0.25% in equal parts of water and IMS was used. The adhesive powder was dissolved in the water first of all and IMS added afterwards. This is because Culminal is only partially solouble in IMS and so will become cloudy if IMS is added too early. Culminal was applied to the surface with a paint brush. After drying the plaster became hardened but no colour change was noted colour. Cleaning: Cleaning of the interior was carried out using a soft brush and vacuum. The interior of the tenons were not emptied but their tops blocked with plastazote in order that when moved to the new organics store the tenon contents will not fall out if it is necessary to tip the coffin on its side at all when moving throught the corridors. Packaging: The sides of the coffin are held in place with dowels between the sides and base and mud packing between the joints. A lot of the mud has now been lost, resulting in the two sides and ends of the coffin becoming slightly wobbly. Since this is only a minor problem it was decided that extensive filling was not necessary. Instead, four wide tyvekstrips were passed underneath the coffin and tied on top. Two large plastazote wedges were put in near the head and the foot of the coffin to act as a brace.
Details
Treatment
1 related objects
coffin
Museum number
EA6700 |
Cultures/periods
x13549
21st Dynasty
|
Findspot
Found/Acquired:
Egypt