A Ptolemaic Egyptian Cartonnage Mask: Analysis of Authenticity and Provenance

Abstract

Museums strive to determine the authenticity and provenance of the artifacts they preserve. Such research also increases the educational value of acquired objects, allowing a rich history and cultural context to be shared with museum patrons. This project was conducted to research the cultural relevance, and confirm the authenticity and provenance of artifact eg11:1, a Ptolemaic funeral mask acquired for the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in the early 1950s. In my research, I have compiled a body of evidence through the combination of art historical research of stylistic elements of the mask, biographical research of various persons associated with the artifact, and the analysis of its pigments using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM). The stylistic similarities of the mask to ancient objects, associations with a prominent antiquities dealer of Egypt, and the presence of traditional pigments and materials prove the likely authenticity of the artifact. Additionally, I believe that the mask would lend itself well to public exhibition and education, on account of its intriguing history and cultural background.