Multi-analytical study of a Ptolemaic painted Egyptian textile cartonnage mask

Abstract

Cartonnage mummy masks represent a technologically and symbolically complex category of ancient Egyptian funerary art, yet many examples remain insufficiently documented. This study presents a comprehensive typological and multi-analytical investigation of an anonymous polychrome textile cartonnage mummy mask (Object No. 1032) from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Digital optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveal a plain-weave cellulosic fiber. SEM–EDS, portable XRF, and XRD analyses identify a calcite-rich ground layer and a pigment palette comprising Egyptian blue (cuprorivaite), malachite, vermilion, hematite, and iron-oxide black, together with high-purity gold leaf. FTIR spectroscopy indicates the use of proteinaceous and polysaccharide binding media. Typological features and material evidence support attribution to the Ptolemaic period. This integrated non-invasive approach enhances understanding of cartonnage manufacturing technology and provides a methodological framework for studying undocumented funerary objects.