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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
The Howard Carter Archives
Photographs by Harry Burton
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Carter No.: 540

Handlist description: Lid of casket 551

Card/Transcription No.: 540-1a


Casket No. 540 and 551. 1

This casket is an admirable example of the highly decorative type produced by the artisans of the reign. Its structure is architectural in spirit, it being designed after the form of a shrine. The box proper has an entablature comprising an ebony edged cornice of gesso-gilt, a green wood torus-moulding, and a narrow plain ebony frieze. On each of its four sides are broad rails and stiles of veneered ivory which form oblong rectangular central panels. These panels - bordered with rectangular and garland patterns of inlaid ivory, ebony, faience, glass, and calcite - are veneered with ivory luxuriantly carved and stained with floral, animal, and hunting motifs. The box stands upon four square legs, which are ferruled with bronze-caps, and its

Card no. 540-1a relating to Carter no. 540
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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
Concept & Direction: Jaromir Malek
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Scanning & transcript: Sue Hutchison, Elizabeth Miles, Diana Magee, Kent Rawlinson