New Egyptian Art in the permanent galleries of the Carlos Museum

Michael C Carlos ENews, February 2009

In preparation for the new exhibition Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs the Carlos Museum’s Egyptian Galleries have seen the redesign of a number of cases and the installation of many new loans and acquisitions.

The objects are expertly conserved and brilliantly showcased in newly painted and lit cases, and in particular some important pieces from the New Kingdom have been added to satisfy Atlanta’s desire to know more about Tutankhamun and his time. Some of the new loans include a head of Tutankhamun as the god Amun in black granite, some wonderful pieces of jewelry and examples of the minor arts such as a beautifully carved playing piece from a game of hounds and jackals and a figurine of the god Bes.

There is a also an exquisite stela in red granite of a man and wife offering to the creator god Ptah, and a head carved in prized quartzite of an important official of the New Kingdom, perhaps Senenmut, the favorite of Queen Hatshepsut.

A generous gift to the collection is an image of a husband and wife seated at a banquet from the side of a coffin, which perfectly illustrates the luxuriant life of Egypt’s age of empire. Other loans and gifts include, a magnificent Middle Kingdom motto-clasp- a very rare and iconic jewel, an early necklace with unusual representations of turtles, and an intricately carved temple window from the Roman Period.

Some of the Nubian objects on display in the last exhibition have also been incorporated into the galleries, as well. Hopefully, we will be seeing more additions to the galleries as the Tutankhamun exhibition spurs Atlanta’s passion for the Lands of the Nile and makes the Carlos Museum the place to go to always experience the beauty and wonder of ancient Egypt and Nubia.