DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Godziejewski, Zbigniew: Saqqara 2005: conservation work
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42091#0196
SAQQARA
EGYPT
its east and south walls. Paraloid B-72
solution in acetone (6-7%) was also used
for powdering surfaces and in order to
block salts on the red paint used in the
repre-sentation of the vizier.
The ceiling in Chapel 15, covered with
salt crystals and powdering, was dripped
with a solution of Paraloid B-72 (c. 5%),
applied with a low-pressure sprayer.
The rock structure in Chapels 15 and
16 was reinforced. The process concerns
a layer hardly more than 10 cm thick and
varies, depending on layer compactness
and quantity of material used. Efforts
focused on the inscribed surfaces of the
lintels and the most eroded middle parts of
the facade. The procedure took place in
two phases: first, the rock surface was
dripped with FlTNCOSlL ANTIHYGRO (made
by Remmers) in order to limit the
hydratizing heaving of loamy minerals
contained in the rock (and constituting up
to 20% of its substance).
Funcosil KSE 300E, a preparation
based on esters of silica acid, was used.
Further treatment will be necessary
wherever the rock structure has been
particularly loosened. A suspension based
on Funcosil KSE 500 STE and fillers,
Funcosil Fullstoff A and B, with color
additions should be used to fill empty
spaces between sections of the rock.
OBJECTS
Conservation work in this campaign also
concerned small objects discovered in earlier
campaigns (1998-1999, 2004 — carton-
nages) and in 2005.
CARTONNAGES
Six elements, parts of a cartonnage dis-
covered in 1998 (Burial 37), were subjected
to consolidation work. These are: mask with
traces of gold on the surface; necklace; panel
with djed-pillar and the four sons of Horus;
panel with mummification scene; openwork
fragment covering the legs; and the wrap-
ping of the feet. The fields covered with
Egyptian blue were mounted first because
the binder of this pigment had almost
completely disintegrated and total disinte-
gration of loose grains was imminent. These
fields were dripped with a c. 7% solution of
Klucel GF with ethyl alcohol and,
subsequently, stabilized with a solution of
Movilith 50 in ethyl alcohol (c. 5%). The
other fields were cleaned: loose concentra-
tions of dirt were removed from the surface,
and they were dripped with a 3-7% solution
of Klucel GF in ethyl alcohol, the density
varying according to the degree of dis-
integration. Detaching elements were
mounted with MOVILITH 50 (c. 10%
solution in ethyl alcohol).
A similar procedure was applied in the
treatment of three other fragments coming
from a cartonnage that was discovered in
1999 (Burial 75): necklace with Horus-
figures; winged goddess Maat; leg panel.
A fourth element was the covering of the
head of a cartonnage discovered and treated
in 2004.
WOOD
The wood of objects found during this
campaign is in very bad condition, the sur-
face having been deeply corroded (frag-
ments of two figurines from Shaft 77) or
broken (a staff in many fragments, also from
Shaft 77). The finds included two small
fragments of planks originating from Shaft
89, distorted and cracked alongside and
across the veins, with elements of joints
(dowels), traces of polychromy on one of
them (blue and red colors, and a headrest
from Shaft 80).
192
EGYPT
its east and south walls. Paraloid B-72
solution in acetone (6-7%) was also used
for powdering surfaces and in order to
block salts on the red paint used in the
repre-sentation of the vizier.
The ceiling in Chapel 15, covered with
salt crystals and powdering, was dripped
with a solution of Paraloid B-72 (c. 5%),
applied with a low-pressure sprayer.
The rock structure in Chapels 15 and
16 was reinforced. The process concerns
a layer hardly more than 10 cm thick and
varies, depending on layer compactness
and quantity of material used. Efforts
focused on the inscribed surfaces of the
lintels and the most eroded middle parts of
the facade. The procedure took place in
two phases: first, the rock surface was
dripped with FlTNCOSlL ANTIHYGRO (made
by Remmers) in order to limit the
hydratizing heaving of loamy minerals
contained in the rock (and constituting up
to 20% of its substance).
Funcosil KSE 300E, a preparation
based on esters of silica acid, was used.
Further treatment will be necessary
wherever the rock structure has been
particularly loosened. A suspension based
on Funcosil KSE 500 STE and fillers,
Funcosil Fullstoff A and B, with color
additions should be used to fill empty
spaces between sections of the rock.
OBJECTS
Conservation work in this campaign also
concerned small objects discovered in earlier
campaigns (1998-1999, 2004 — carton-
nages) and in 2005.
CARTONNAGES
Six elements, parts of a cartonnage dis-
covered in 1998 (Burial 37), were subjected
to consolidation work. These are: mask with
traces of gold on the surface; necklace; panel
with djed-pillar and the four sons of Horus;
panel with mummification scene; openwork
fragment covering the legs; and the wrap-
ping of the feet. The fields covered with
Egyptian blue were mounted first because
the binder of this pigment had almost
completely disintegrated and total disinte-
gration of loose grains was imminent. These
fields were dripped with a c. 7% solution of
Klucel GF with ethyl alcohol and,
subsequently, stabilized with a solution of
Movilith 50 in ethyl alcohol (c. 5%). The
other fields were cleaned: loose concentra-
tions of dirt were removed from the surface,
and they were dripped with a 3-7% solution
of Klucel GF in ethyl alcohol, the density
varying according to the degree of dis-
integration. Detaching elements were
mounted with MOVILITH 50 (c. 10%
solution in ethyl alcohol).
A similar procedure was applied in the
treatment of three other fragments coming
from a cartonnage that was discovered in
1999 (Burial 75): necklace with Horus-
figures; winged goddess Maat; leg panel.
A fourth element was the covering of the
head of a cartonnage discovered and treated
in 2004.
WOOD
The wood of objects found during this
campaign is in very bad condition, the sur-
face having been deeply corroded (frag-
ments of two figurines from Shaft 77) or
broken (a staff in many fragments, also from
Shaft 77). The finds included two small
fragments of planks originating from Shaft
89, distorted and cracked alongside and
across the veins, with elements of joints
(dowels), traces of polychromy on one of
them (blue and red colors, and a headrest
from Shaft 80).
192