Australian Museum Completes Conservation of Egyptian Cartonnage Masks
Melissa Holt, a project conservator at the Australian Museum, has concluded a four-part blog series detailing the conservation treatment of Egyptian cartonnage masks. The final installment focused on mask E019000, which required specialized handling due to its front and back panels. Treatment involved using magnets to realign splits and flatten lifted paper, along with methylcellulose adhesive and Japanese tissue for reinforcement. Following conservation, custom storage boxes with detachable stands were created to ensure safe transport and future display. This project demonstrates the museum's approach to preserving cultural heritage artifacts.
Key facts
- Melissa Holt documented the conservation of Egyptian cartonnage masks in a four-part blog series
- The final mask treated was E019000, which has both front and back panels
- Magnets were used to realign splits and flatten lifted paper during treatment
- Custom storage boxes with detachable stands were created for all masks
- The project was completed at the Australian Museum's Collection Care and Conservation department
Entities
Institutions
- Australian Museum
Locations
- Australia