Cartonnage Mummy Case
Funerary art; Anthropoid mummy case/envelope • Anonymous Egyptian artisans; workshop of the Late Period/Greco-Roman transition.
Style & Movement
Greco-Roman Egyptian (fusion of traditional Egyptian funerary iconography with Hellenistic/Roman influences).
Medium & Technique
Cartonnage (layers of linen or papyrus glued together and coated with plaster), painted with mineral pigments, and gilded with gold leaf on the face. Featuring glass inlays for the eyes.
Creation Period
Late Ptolemaic Dynasty to early Roman Empire, approximately 30 B.C.E. - 50 C.E.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 160-180 cm in length; anthropoid three-dimensional format.
Subject Description
The case depicts a stylized deceased individual. The gilded face symbolizes the divine, eternal nature of the deceased's soul (Osiris). The torso is divided into registers depicting protective deities, including Osiris, Anubis, and various funerary genii. The feet of the case are painted with the soles of sandals, flanked by scorpions for protection during the journey to the afterlife.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. While the overall structure remains intact, there is significant loss and fraying of the linen cartonnage on the side, particularly near the shoulder area.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 - $300,000 USD (based on museum quality and rarity of full cases from this period).
Auction Estimate
$100,000 - $250,000 USD.
Provenance History
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust; currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA 1914.713).
Art Historical Significance
This piece exemplifies the transition in Egyptian funerary customs following the Roman conquest. It shows the continued importance of cartonnage as a medium for the non-elite and elite classes, bridging the gap between Pharaonic traditions and the Roman Fayum portrait style visible in the background.
Notable Features
The presence of glass inlays for the eyes adds a lifelike, haunting quality. The soles of the sandals painted on the base of the feet represent a specific Greco-Roman funerary tradition intended to protect the deceased's path in the underworld.
Condition Issues
Visible textile decay and mechanical loss of the plaster/pigment layer on the left side. Surface abrasions, fine cracking (craquelure) in the plaster, and minor fading of pigments due to age.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strict climate control (low humidity) to prevent further linen degradation. Display in low-UV lighting environments. Physical stabilization of frayed textile edges may be required to prevent further loss.