Working with my apprentice sister, I have begun a very interesting volunteer project for the Albany Institute of History and Art. In 1911, the Institute acquired two mummies. The Ptolomaic period mummy is partially unwrapped. The 21st Dynasty mummy remains wrapped, but is in fragile condition. Little research was done on these mummies in the past, but now the museum is preparing for an Egyptian exhibition. Over the summer, the mummies were removed from their coffins and taken to the Albany Medical Center to receive MRIs. The mummies had been propped up in the coffins on scraps of fabric. The cut away wrappings of the Ptolomaic mummy were mixed with the other fabric scraps in his coffin. We have been asked to examine the fabric and determine as much as we can about it using non-destructive methods.
Weave structure (tabby) and ply (single) can be determined by close examination. With additional study we aim to determine spin direction, thread count and fiber type. We will also look for any differences between the textiles from the two time periods.
Museum staff placed the textile fragments in boxes and bags when they were removed from the coffins. Most of the pieces are small and in various states of decay. On our initial inspection we discovered three very interesting pieces - a scrap of fringe; a rectangle which includes the selvedge and a blue stripe in the warp threads; and a piece which appears to be clothing - we found a whip-stitched seam (we won't know for sure until we are able to flatten it out). I am very excited about getting back to examine these pieces in detail.
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