Coffin Fragment

Modelled face sculptured from a single piece of wood that has been prepared with plaster and painted. The front is naturalistically formed but the back surface is a flat plane. The face, or “mask”, was carved separately and would have been pegged in place on the coffin during the manufacture process. A sculptured wooden wig would have been affixed to the head by pegs. This construction technique was widely used during the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period (1069 BC – 332 BC). Though to be from the same coffin are two hands: 55.82.84 and 55.82.85. John Garstang excavated about 250 tombs at "Beni Hasan South" near the mouth of the gorge of the Speos Artemidos in 1904, but this work is less well recorded than that of the earlier shaft tombs he excavated at Beni Hasan. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Some damage to wood, one dowel protruding from face, some splitting of the wood, old infestation, surface loss, flaking surface, surface dirt. Marked on the back in pencil 10.6.1904.1. Has in error been also been marked in black 55.82.89.