National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside Djed-hor Book of the Dead accession n

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1 1 Beginning of the Ptolemaic period. Discovered as a completely undisturbed roll in a cemetery excavated by Liverpool University in Text is written in Hieratic with carbon ink and red ochre. Vignettes are painted with carbon ink. Roll structure : The roll is now constituted of 20 sheets pasted together with joins (right sheet overlapping the left one) around 1 cm wide. The beginning and external part is partially lost, the remaining pieces being scattered in a wooden box. The end ( un-inbscribed ) and centre part of the roll, still tightly rolled, is stored in another box. 5 pieces have been cut out of the roll to allow their exhibition and their storage after unrolling. Beginning of the roll End of the roll 5 pieces cut out of the roll. Dimensions of the sheets constituting each piece Recto & verso (1) 1,3-21,5-21, ,9-15,8 (incomplete) cm stored between glass, with paper circles folded as clips to press the papyrus

2 (2) 1, ,6 19,7 cm stored between glass, with paper circles folded as clips to press the papyrus (3) 19,2 20,5 21,1 21,8 20,2 2 cm framed

3 (4) 1 20,5 20,2 21, ,2 1,6 cm framed (5) 17,3 29 cm loose on cardboard covered with a sheet of paper

4 4 The whole treatment has been performed in collaboration with Laurence Caylux Paper conservator in Paris, INP Graduate in Paper Conservation Condition report Beginning of the roll in very bad conditions (brown, brittle, torn) and scattered in tiny pieces; Overall brown discolouration ; Several areas spread all along the papyrus are dark brown, almost burnt, and very brittle ; Cracks and tears opened ; Loose fragments ; Losses ; Distortions ; Brown stains ; Dirt and dust. Back side Numerous strips of translucent gummed paper. Strips of archival tape securing some tears. Strips of brown thick kraft paper Translucent paper consolidations Brown paper consolidations

5 5 Tears opened Dark brown areas Treatment Dry cleaning with smoke sponge, recto and verso (depending of the weakness of the material) ; Light humidification between sheets of felted Goretex ; Removal of the gummed translucent strips, after local humidification with funori ; Removal of the kraft strips after humidification with tap water when possible ; sometimes the papyrus is too fragile to allow that ; Local consolidation of the cracks and tears with thin strips of toned gampi paper and wheat starch paste ; Lining of the most brittle oxidised areas with thin handmade Japanese paper (5g, K93) and funori ; sometimes the lining is applied on top of the remaining old strips of brown paper ; General spray with funori on the back side ; Wet cleaning of the front side with lens tissue and water for the (5) General humidification between Goretex ; Flattening under press between blotters ; Removing of the old consolidations after humidification Dry cleaning

6 6 Lining on the back side Local consolidations Local lining and consolidations Local consolidations Dimensions of the various pieces : n 1 : 41,8 x 97 cm n 2 : 41,8 x 57,5 cm n 3 : 41,8 x 99,5 cm n 4 : 41,8 x 98,5 cm n 5 : 41,7 x 39 cm Mounting Toning of acid-free buffered paper with watercolour ; Cutting two layers of corrugated acid-free cardboard as support ; Fixing the papyrus with hinges of gampi paper and wheat starch paste on the toned paper ; Mirogard anti reflective and anti UV 3 mm thick glass sheet put on top ; Strip of neutral cardboard, 2mm thick, put along the horizontal edges to protect the glazing from cracking ; Closing the mount with gummed brown kraft paper. Mounts dimensions : n 1 : 48,4 x 99 cm

7 7 n 2 : 48,4 cm x 58 cm n 3 : 48,4 x 100 cm n 4 : 48,4 x 99 cm n 5 : 48,4 x 40 cm 1998_291 (1) 1998_291 (3) 1998_291 (4) 1998_291 (5) Warning : The papyrus remains very brittle and fragile. It requires the most extensive care. Lighting :

8 8 It should be exhibited with the same rules as the fragile graphic materials (Cf. AFNOR NF Z : 2002, Preservation requirements for exhibiting graphic and photographic materials) Transportation and storing : The mounting should be stored protected from light, horizontally. It could be displayed vertically or on an oblique support. It should be carried horizontally, minimising as much as possible vibrations. Climate : The climate should be kept stable, around 18 C ± 1 C with RH around 50% ± 5%. Material references Make up sponge from Muji ; Pure wheat starch, réf. VWR International ; Paste prepared with 8 g of wheat starch powder diluted in 20 ml water and cooked in a microwaves oven ; Funori, seaweed (Gloïopeltis algae) glue directly imported from Japan, prepared with 0,5 g of dried seaweed for 100 ml water ; Japanese paper 100% gampi, 14 g, ref. Atlantis G 24 ; Winsor & Newton watercolours ; Acid free buffered paper for watercolour 300g, Lanaquarelle, fine grain ; Klug corrugated cardboard ref. EB 4.5, 940g.