Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A beautiful gessoed cartonnage panel meant to be set atop the legs of a mummy prior to burial. Rectangular in form, this panel displays a central black-and-tan vertical stripe flanked by two lateral registers of alternating red, blue, tan, and white hues. The upper register depicts the four sons of Horus - Duamutef, Imsety, Hapy, and Qebehsenuef - seated on either side of a central ankh, an important and ancient hieroglyph symbolizing life. The upper horizontal and lower vertical registers are separated by a segmented black-and-white panel. Custom lucite display stand included. Size (panel): 6.25" W x 18" H (15.9 cm x 45.7 cm); size (lucite stand): 12" W x 19.75" H (30.5 cm x 50.2 cm).

Ancient Egyptians believed it was of the utmost importance to preserve a body of the deceased, because the soul needed a place to reside after the death. Preservation of the body was done via mummification - a process involving the removal of internal organs that were placed in canopic jars, wrapping body in linen, and then embalming.

Artisans were able to employ the use of different materials when crafting sarcophagi or any elements to be placed atop the deceased. Earlier elements like death masks or body coverings were carved from wood, while later ones like this example were made of cartonnage, a material made from papyrus or linen and soaked in plaster which was then applied to a wooden mold.

Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Hallen collection, Oregon, USA, acquired at auction at Ancient Resources, Montrose, California, USA in February, 2011; ex-old private San Francisco, California, USA collection

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#139164

Panel repaired from multiple large pieces with some small losses and light adhesive residue along break lines. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, small losses to upper register, peripheries, and some internal areas, with fading to some areas of pigmentation, and desiccation as shown. Nice earthen deposits and pigmentation throughout.