Egyptian mummy to be repaired in England

[guy]

 

A damaged Egyptian mummy from 300 BCE, which was damaged during 19th-century unwrapping and examination in Britain, is set for restoration. It belongs to the Derby Museum. The cartonnage, or funeral mask, indicates that the mummy was of high social status.

 

 

🏺 Egyptian Mummy Pa-Sheri: Restoration and Historical Significance

A 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy named Pa-Sheri, dating to around 300 BCE during the Ptolemaic period, is undergoing restoration after severe damage caused during the 19th-century unwrapping and examination in Britain. Pa-Sheri has been part of the Derby Museums collection since at least 1859, and his remains were recently transferred to the University of Lincoln for conservation work.

🔍 Damage and Victorian Interference

X-rays revealed extensive internal damage: head, pelvis, and limb parts were removed, and arm bones were rearranged into the chest cavity.

His outer wrappings were reattached, concealing the invasive treatment, likely performed either for scientific curiosity or during so-called “mummy unwrapping parties”, a grim Victorian fad.

🎨 Cartonnage and Social Status

Pa-Sheri’s painted cartonnage (funeral mask) is richly decorated with hieroglyphics, vibrant pigments like Egyptian Blue and orpiment yellow, and intricate illustrations.

These features indicate he had a high social status in ancient Luxor, possibly belonging to the elite class.

🛠️ Restoration Approach

Conservation students Ella Maude and Ella Monteiro, under the supervision of senior technician Josephine Mackenzie, are employing a minimal intervention strategy—preserving the mummy’s current condition while stabilizing damage.

Techniques include consolidating flaking plaster and paint, cleaning fragile surfaces, and replacing aged supports beneath the mask.

🏛️ Exhibition and Ethical Reflection

Pa-Sheri will be displayed alongside another mummy, Pypyu, in Derby’s new exhibition Displaced: From the Nile to the Derwent, which explores how Egyptian artifacts arrived in British museums.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8wxpw1rg8o

Edited October 5, 2025 by guy