AN EGYPTIAN FAIENCE MUMMY SHROUD WITH FOUR SONS OF

Late Period, Circa 664 -332 BC An ancient Egyptian mummy shroud of beadwork from the chest of a mummified person, consisting of a net of dark green barrel and light green tubular beads with green ring of beads to forming the face, the skin made of green beads, the nose formed of yellow beads and mouth formed of red beads, a winged scarab pectoral and four sons of Horus: from the chest of a mummified person, consisting of a net of black barrel and green tubular beads with yellow ring beads. Below the mask is a a beaded pectoral winged scarab, a symbol of rebirth and generation. Beneath, are the Four Sons of Horus, Imsety, Duamutef, Hapi, Qebehsenuef. Protectors of the organs of the deceased. Shrouds of this type became popular in the Late Dynastic Period all the way through the Ptolemaic period and had both decorative and more importantly a symbolic use, as the burial was a highly magical process. To the Egyptians rebirth and the accession into the afterlife was more important than the life they firstly lived. The afterlife was eternal, so every precaution was taken in order to achieve eternal life. The face mask is interpreted to represent Osiris the god of the afterlife, rebirth and regeneration. In mythology, Osiris was also a dead being. Winged scarabs were usually modelled in faience and placed as pectoral embellishment on the chest of the mummy. In this case, the scarab, symbol of re-birth and regeneration, has been sewed together with the mummy mask. Manley, B and Dodson, A., (2010) Life Everlasting. National Museums Scotland Collection of Ancient Egyptian Coffins (Edinburgh: NMS Enterprises Ltd.), Cat.43, p. 115 For similar see National Museums of Scotland; Accession Number: A.1906.384Size: L:240mm / W:150mm ; 89.2gProvenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in early 2000s; previously in 1970s UK collection.