Egyptian Coffer

Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Coffer from Tutankhamen’s tomb

This coffer was made during the reign of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen (1332-1323 BCE). Wooden furnishings have not survived from the ancient world except in Egypt, where dry climatic conditions have been favorable to preservation. The trove of objects discovered in Tut’s tomb is world renowned.

This coffer made of date palm, one of the few timber trees that grew in the Nile Valley. It was then decorated with exotic ebony and ivory that had been sawn into veneers. Geometric shapes were cut out and pieced together in this interesting pattern. The red in the borders was a faience enamel tile. The figurative panel in the center is painted ivory.