Below the surface of the coffin lid of Neskhonsuennekhy in the Museo Egizio collection

Abstract

The multidisciplinary and multi‐technical study of the coffin lid of Neskhonsuennekhy (Turin, Museo Egizio, inventory number S.05245) datable to the 26th dynasty (664–525 BC) was launched in 2015 at the Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale during the conservation activities required by the Museo Egizio, as part of wider research on the so‐called red coffins. Widespread abrasions and gaps in the pictorial stratigraphy strongly impeded the reading of the decoration, and a reddish and locally blackened material was covering many areas. Integrating multispectral imaging (UV fluorescence, VIL, IR reflectography), MA‐XRF, radiography, and analyses on micro‐samplings (OM, SEM‐EDX, FT‐IR) allowed deepening the state of preservation, detecting previous intervention, and characterizing the blackened surface, necessary to define the cleaning intervention objectives. In particular, the IR reflectography allowed recovering the readability of the beautiful drawings and the ancient hieroglyphs hidden beneath the reddish blackened surface. Based on the analytical data and compatibility with the pigments known in ancient Egypt, it was possible to return to the public the original lost decoration with a descriptive and virtual reconstruction. The new LANDIS‐X scanning station equipped with a real‐time macro XRF was fundamental for studying pigments, glazes, and mixtures besides the presence of lead impurities in the copper source used to make the Egyptian blue pigment, encouraging the research on the sources of mineral supply. Finally, this study allowed understanding the technique of execution of the find, from the assembly of the wooden elements to the reddish finish, noticing analogies with the other red coffins.

X-ray Imaging Investigation on the Gilding Technique of an Ancient Egyptian Taweret Wooden Statuette

“…The observation of the slices at the height of the terminal part of the wig (Figure 5a,b), probably carved in the wooden material for the application of a relief decoration, allows us to appreciate both the regularity of the grooves and to confirm the absence of the prep- The observation of the slices at the height of the terminal part of the wig (Figure 5a,b), probably carved in the wooden material for the application of a relief decoration, allows us to appreciate both the regularity of the grooves and to confirm the absence of the preparation layer inside; in fact, upon direct observation, it shows traces of color but not of preparation. This data can confirm the hypothesis of the direct application of another type of material (e.g., relief decoration or frit), as already found in other finds from the same period [31]. Instead, stratigraphy like that of the body (preparation layer with the metal leaf applied on it) is found in the area of the sternum (Figure 5b,c).…”

More than XRF Mapping: STEAM (Statistically Tailored Elemental Angle Mapper) a Pioneering Analysis Protocol for Pigment Studies

“…[A] k 7 ( Figure 7D) marks the suppression of all the low energy contributions (minor or equal to 3.3 keV corresponding to the K α emission of K) and allows to classify the couples formed by 11 and 18 and by 20 and 21, respectively, as original blues and blacks. The scenario for points 13,14,15,17,22, and 23 is only apparently more complex with respect to the situation depicted by the abundance criterion; once removed the Fe K α series at 6.4 keV ( Figure 7E), what we inferred observing the panels of Figure 6 can be proposed again. The agreement between abundance and incidence criterion is broken only by sequences 5 and 10 which assignment as unclassifiable and original switches, respectively, to original and restorations.…”

“…As an example of the flexibility and of the enormous potential of XRF mapping, we are introducing and discussing a pioneering analysis protocol called STEAM, Statistically Tailored Elemental Angle Mapper. Based on the SAM algorithm and on the Global Spectrum (GS) analysis introduced by Galli and co-workers [46], STEAM first accomplishes the tasks of the MA-XRF typical approach (i.e., it maps the elemental distribution [10,14]) and then, in synergy with punctual XRF, it exploits the information gathered from the mapped area(s) as a database to extend the comprehension to data outside the scanned region(s). The protocol works independently from the acquisition set-up and, once defined the main features of the database, it sheds light on uncharacterized data, disregarding their origin and their relationships with the scanned region(s).…”

“…At this step of data elaboration, nothing can still be said about a few points: 5 and 7 seem to depict an impossible mix of original and modern pigments while, if on one hand 12 and 16 can be excluded from restorations, on the other hand, their similarity with the original areas is so low that any kind of assignment would be a hazard. Following the removal of the K α line of Fe (6.4 keV, Figure 6D), the distinction between original and restoration areas results improved: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 19 can be assigned to recent intervention(s) while 10,11,13,14,15,17,18,20,21,22, and 23 to the Giotto's palette. 12 and 16 are probably two different kinds of reds ascribable to the Florentine master, but their characterization cannot be fully accomplished using the available database.…”

Atomic spectrometry update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its special applications

“…In particular, the number of plausible glass families could be reduced considerably by using the ratio between the network modifier (K) and network stabiliser (Ca) and the level of colourants and decolourisers (As, Fe, Mn). The power of the new LANDIS-X scanning station equipped with a real-time macroXRF system was demonstrated by Cavaleri et al 105 by analysing the coffin lid of Neskhonsuennekhy in the Museo Egizio collection (Turin, Italy). Pigments, glazes and mixtures were studied as well as the Pb impurities in the copper source used to make the Egyptian blue pigment.…”