Pair of Egyptian Painted Wood Sarcophagus Corner Posts

Maspero collection, France, acquired 1970s. with Galerie Cybele, Paris, 1999

The rectangular coffin, although the oldest type of coffin, became popular in the Late Period. The form was an intended substitute for stone sarcophagi. Made of wood and consisting of wall panels, framing, and usually a vaulted lid, the type takes on the shape of the tomb of Osiris. It is believed they were brought into the tomb in pieces and constructed inside due to the large size of the finished sarcophagus which is often too big to have been carried in whole.

S. d'Auria et al, Mummies and Magic, the Funerary Arts of Ancient Egypt, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1988, p. 173 no. 125a for an outer coffin with vaulted lid and four corner posts inscribed with four standard offering formulae, addressed to Osiris, Ptah-Sokar, Re-Horakhty and Atum.