1994.184, Coffin, Egyptian, 25th Dynasty, c. 700 B.C.E., wood, gesso, paint, obsidian, calcite, bronze

Ancient Egyptian coffins housed an individual's physical remains and ka (vital force or soul) during the journey to the afterlife. The decorations on the inside and outside of the coffins guaranteed the deceased's survival. Such decorations could include food and drink, servants, or in the instance of the Dallas Museum of Art's coffin, a pair of obsidian eyes to see the rising sun, spells, and other items that reflected the religious beliefs and social practices of the ancient Egyptians.

This striking coffin is made from a single tree-trunk which has been hollowed out and carefully carved to create an anthropoid casing. The figure's brilliant calcite and obsidian eyes shine with glittering force, and the forms of the body are clearly and powerfully delineated under the representation of linen mummy wrappings. The colors on the molded gesso (linen impregnated with plaster) have survived in excellent condition, which adds to the dramatic effect. Clearly aesthetic emphasis is placed on life and undying vitality rather than on death. 

Anthropoid coffins, introduced during the 12th Dynasty (1985-1795 BCE), replicate the form of a human body wrapped in a linen shroud and served as substitutes for the corpses in case the remains were lost or destroyed. The Dallas coffin was made for Horankh as indicated by the name inscribed on the base. Although the sculpted head is rendered in a naturalistic manner, the colors and beard are symbolic; the green face symbolizing spring growth, life, and immortality, and the plaited, upturned beard, are both attributes of Osiris, Lord of the Underworld and god of the resurrection. Horankh's dedication to Osiris is evident in the invocation to the deity inscribed on the base of the statue.

Horankh lived during the 25th Dynasty (747-656 BCE), which is also known as the Kushite or Nubian Dynasty. Nubia was located along the Nile River between Aswan in southern Egypt and Khartoum in northern Sudan. There the ancient Nubians developed powerful, independent kingdoms beginning around 3100 BCE and competed with Egypt for the use of the Nile River as a commercial highway and for the acquisition of land. While Egypt dominated Nubia on more than one occasion, the Nubians took advantage of a divided Egypt in 747 BCE and ruled it for one hundred years. When Nubian kings ruled Egypt, Egyptian artists looked back to the classic models of their earlier art. An outer coffin like this one, with its lack of ornate decoration, was modeled on the severe purity of Middle Kingdom coffins (2055-1650 BCE).

1979: Christie's catalog of Important Classical, Western, Asiatic and Egyptian Antiquities, New York, January 25, 1979, lot 185, page 60. [1]

1987: Marvin Kagan art Inc, New York, New York [1]

1991: Sotheyby's catalog, Ancient Jewellery, Dark Ages, Anglo-Saxon, Scythian, Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities also Ancient Glass, December 3, 1996, lot 73, page 36, London, England [1]

Until 1994: Collecion of Canal Capital Corporation, New York, New York [2]

From 1994: Dallas Museum of Art, The Cecil and Ida Green Acquisition Fund, purchased through dealer Nicholas Reeves, London, England

[1] The main provenance and known references to this object are from a letter from dealer Nicholas Reeves to Dr. Anne Bromberg dated August 16, 1994 found in the Collections Records Object File 1994.184.

[2] See letter of August 26, 1994 addressed "To Whom It May Concern" signed by Reginald Schauder, Vice President of Finance at Canal Capital Corporation

13309349: UMO; Listen to a gallery talk given by Aditi Samarth of Richland College on November 5, 2008 entitled, "Concepts of Eternity in Ancient Egypt."

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston~Compare to another anthropoid coffin.

Apply to objects where number equals 1994.184