Significance
The object is a wooden coffin, surfaced with gesso, and painted in polychrome. I worked on this object from Oct-Nov 2011. Measures 2140mm long, 750mm wide, 800mm high.
The coffin I worked on is the outer base part of a nest of coffins with mummy. It is one of the centre pieces of the Egyptian Galleries of the Ashmolean Museum, opened in Nov 2011. It dates to the 25th dynasty (c. 1080-650 BC) and belongs to a priest called Djeddjehutyefankh, whose tomb was excavated by Naville at Deir el-Bahari at the end of the 19th century. The inner coffins are anthropomorphic, and the outer one is rectangular with a post at each corner and vaulted lid, typical of the 25th dynasty.
The coffin I worked on is the outer base part of a nest of coffins with mummy. It is one of the centre pieces of the Egyptian Galleries of the Ashmolean Museum, opened in Nov 2011. It dates to the 25th dynasty (c. 1080-650 BC) and belongs to a priest called Djeddjehutyefankh, whose tomb was excavated by Naville at Deir el-Bahari at the end of the 19th century. The inner coffins are anthropomorphic, and the outer one is rectangular with a post at each corner and vaulted lid, typical of the 25th dynasty.
Pre-treatment condition
Previous conservation work on the coffin to stabilise edges and fill gaps with AJK (Avlar(polyvinyl acetal)-jute-kaolin) dough had left disfiguring areas that the conservators at the Ashmolean wished to reverse before the coffin went on display. The dough had affixed some of the gesso/paint edges such that flakes had been pulled away as the object moved due to environment or handling.
Treatment
The aim of the treatment was to improve the appearance of the coffin for display and stabilise damaged gesso/paint edges.
The treatment proceeded as follows:
The treatment proceeded as follows:
- Apply acetone to the AJK dough until it softens.
- Remove with hand tools.
- Consolidate mud plaster and fragile wooden areas with Lascaux 4176 (Medium for Conservation) or 1-2% w/v Klucel G in 50:50 IMS:distilled water, or Lascaux 4176 mixed with Lascaux 498HV (approx 1:3 by volume). The choice of consolidant depended on the accessibility and visibility of the area to be consolidated, and the strength of consolidant required.
- Stick back pieces of gesso/paint that have detached with Lascaux 498HV.
- Fill voids with a putty made of 15% w/v Klucel G in 3:2 IMS:acetone with paper pulp, coloured to resemble wood/mud plaster with raw sienna and burnt umber dry pigments. This fill was decided upon after experimentation with various adhesive/bulker combinations.
- Cover AJK fills that have been left in place and new Klucel/pulp fills with spider tissue held down with 5% Klucel G w/v in 3:2 IMS:acetone; paint with Lascaux acrylic colours.
Removal of AJK from one side of the coffin
|
Me removing the AJK
|
Covering and in-painting AJK, in-painted fill (lower left), and the bare tissue left to indicate the face of Nephthys on one end of the coffin
Realigning gesso layers along the long crack down the side by removing AJK and adhering the gesso in its original position
Installation
The nest of coffins was installed in a large free-standing case in the gallery. The lids balance on stainless steel frames, which are held aloft by steel bars suspended on chains from the top of the case. To move the lids into position, they were strapped to their steel frames and lifted by hand onto the bars.
Installing the top lid
|
The nest of coffins installed in the gallery
|
Media coverage
Picture of the Ashmolean conservators in the Oxford Mail (me standing at back)
