Funerary Barge with Mummy, Oarsmen and Mourners

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Middle Kingdom, 2040-1648 B.C.

Material: Wood

Dimensions: 44 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 1130

Provenance: French private collection, acquired on 13 July 1991 at gallery Carrefour in Paris. With handwritten original expertise from Claude Vérité. Accompanied by a French antiquity passport.

Condition: Small restorations on the figures, but complete and extremely rare.

Description: Egyptian funerary barge with eight figures and in the centre of the boat a mummy laid out on a table. On each end of the ship two standing figures, left two seated mourners covered in long robes. Opposite them on the other side four oarsmen. Abundant remains of color on both sides of the barge, as well as remains of linen cover. Old collection labels on the bottom, as well as a collection number on one of the figures. With a radiocarbon test from the QED laboratory, Aix-en-Provence dated 12 November 2016. Funerary barges were placed in the grave for the deceased to symbolize the journey to the otherworld. Often funerary barges were in tow of foreships, which were equipped with a complete team of oarsmen and all possible amenities from this world. Since the ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile also ran through the underworld, a ship was the best mode of transportation.