Layers and Layers: Analysis and Treatment of Egyptian Cartonnage at the Penn Museum

Abstract

ABSTRACT Egyptian cartonnage is a complex material, creating challenges around analysis, treatment, display, and storage. It consists of layers of linen and/or papyrus, followed by a ground layer, then paint, each with its own conservation challenges. This paper provides information on a little published material through presentation of analysis and treatment methods. A group of cartonnage objects were examined and treated at the Penn Museum. This paper will explain the analytical methods employed to identify materials and examine observed deterioration. These objects would have originally covered the body of a deceased individual. All the pieces presented here have been separated from the individuals they belonged to, which has caused some of the observed deterioration, as well as subsequent improper storage. Preferential deterioration of certain paints has also been observed. The prevalence of each condition issue and how it may relate to manufacture and treatment/handling history will be discussed. Preliminary pigment characterization was conducted using portable X-ray fluorescence, multimodal photography, digital microscopy, and reflectance transformation imaging. This included the possible discovery of tin leaf on a small selection of masks, a material which has not previously been identified on objects from ancient Egypt.