Floral Hair Box
GEM Number
255
Collection
Tutankhamun Galleries
Period
New Kingdom
Description
Found inside a yellow-painted wooden box in the Antechamber, this elegant box is decorated in different coloured pigments. There are two bouquets of papyrus, mandrake fruits, cornflowers and lotus petals on the lid and rows of blue lotus flower petals around the sides. The two black knobs are made of obsidian (volcanic glass). The contents were unusual. Howard Carter described finding two round balls of hair covered with cloth. Mud balls containing hair have been found in other tombs. It is possible that this hair came from Tutankhamun and his wife Ankhesenamun and had a ritual significance.
Region
Upper Egypt
Area
Luxor
Wood - Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Height
25.5 cm
Length
35 cm