This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece, called a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” has a lot of contradictory information about it – the MET website and books both have different information about it! The MET website dates this piece to the reign of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 (18th Dynasty) and this piece is in Gallery 119, which is not where it should be based on the books!
The books I have talk about how this piece was found in the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓. An embalming cache is a collection of the supplies and materials that were used during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process. The embalming cache was usually kept separate from the actual tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 itself, though sometimes these supplies were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the person.
But what exactly is a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” and what is its purpose? Sometimes, small mummy masks were placed on mummified internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 and then placed in larger jars. However, all of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were placed in mini canopic coffins in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, so the purpose of this lone miniature mask is quite confusing – what was it doing in his Embalming Cache?
This mini mask (it’s just over 5 inches in height) is made of cartonnage (a material composed of linen and plaster – like an ancient Egyptian paper mache) and the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 colors on it are still strikingly bright! I love the details of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, and blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 and the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth! The lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and the vulture, who represents the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟(protector of Upper Egypt and its rulers) are also beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 touches!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!