s Tutankhamun and Hull - Hull Museums Collections

Tutankhamun and Hull

The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by archaeologist Howard Carter in November 1922 has been hailed one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century. While the Pharaoh's reign itself may have lacked distinction, the publicity that surrounded his discovery ensured that Tutankhamun has become immortalised in popular culture. Hull Museums have an exceptional collection of Tutankhamun replicas produced by Hull artist William Aumonier for the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 less than two years after Carter's amazing discovery.

(image/jpeg) The Discovery of Tutankhamun

The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun has been hailed one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century. While the Pharaoh's reign itself may have lacked distinction, the publicity that surrounded his discovery ensured that Tutankhamun has become immortalised in popular culture. #SUBHEADING# Discovering the tomb #SUBHEADINGEND# The discovery of this long lost pharaoh was a long time coming. Archaeologist Howard Carter had been excavating in the Valley of the Kings for years, and other archaeologists such as Theodore Davis claimed there was nothing left to find there. Lord Carnarvon, Carter's patron had already threatened to pull financial backing, but was persuaded to continue for one more season. Three days into work, on the 4th November 1922, the entrance and stairway to the tomb was discovered, next to that of Ramesses VI. An urgent telegram was sent to Lord Carnarvon in England requesting his presence in Egypt, and further excavations later revealed the cartouche of Tutankhamun - finally the search was over! #SUBHEADING# Can you see anything?'... 'Yes, wonderful things #SUBHEADINGEND# The treasures that awaited Carter and Carnarvon as they entered the tomb on the 25th November 1922 were amazing. Although evidence suggested activity from grave robbers twice in antiquity, the Tomb was still the most intact that had ever been discovered. Directly behind the first door was a corridor filled with rubble, which was cleared to reveal another door, leading to a room Carter described as full of 'wonderful things' - containing 'strange animals, statues and gold - everywhere a glint of gold'. They discovered three funerary couches with Hippo, Cow and Lion heads, white and black bedsteads, a golden throne depicting the Pharaoh and his wife, a wooden mannequin of the Pharaoh used for fitting his robes, and two guardians of the tomb, either side of a door through to the burial chamber. It was not until 23rd February 1923 that Carter ventured into the burial chamber. There he found four gilded shrines, nested one inside the other and a stone sarcophagus, which held three coffins, the innermost made from solid gold and weighing 2500 lbs. The task of removing each coffin was a slow and delicate operation and it was not until 24th October 1925 that the last coffin was opened to reveal the mummified remains of the King and the iconic gold mask. Two other rooms were also discovered; a treasury, containing all the items needed in the afterlife (including the canoptic chest with his internal organs), and an annexe. #SUBHEADING# A lifetime's work #SUBHEADINGEND# Each of the 5000 items in the tomb was meticulously recorded and catalogued. The Tomb took 6 years to excavate and 10 years to remove, treat and study. Progress was not helped by a constant barrage of visitors desperate to catch a glimpse of the latest discovery. #SUBHEADING# Beware the curse of the mummy #SUBHEADINGEND# After the tomb was discovered media fuelled rumours of an ancient 'mummy's curse' were rife, especially following the death of Lord Carnarvon in April 1923, just seven weeks after the opening of the burial chamber. Carter's pet canary was another victim apparently claimed by the curse, after it was eaten by a Cobra on the day the tomb was discovered. However the majority of people connected to the event went on to live for many years, including Carter himself. Lord Carnarvon already had a weak constitution and was primarily advised to visit Egypt for his health. He died of pneumonia, contracted after falling ill from an infected mosquito bite.


(image/jpeg) The Tutankhamun Replicas

#SUBHEADING# The British Empire Exhibition 1924 #SUBHEADINGEND# The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun had caught the public imagination, leading to a widespread 'Tutmania' and a popular craze for all things Egyptian. It was decided that a replica tomb would be created at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924, and a set of replica funerary items found in the Antechamber of the tomb were created from photographs by architectural sculptor William Aumonier and a team of assistants. #SUBHEADING# A 'Complete' Replica #SUBHEADINGEND# The Exhibition brochure described the attraction as: "A complete replica of the tomb of the Egyptian King recently discovered at Luxor, Egypt by Lord Carnarvon and Mr Howard Carter - entrance 1/3, children 8d". Of course 'complete' wasn't quite correct. At the time of the Exhibition opening in 1924, only the Antechamber had been cleared, and the Sarcophagus with its iconic gold mask not yet opened. The items on show could only be a complete record of the small number of items discovered and photographed so far. Visitors to the replica tomb were greeted with an imposing cutaway facade of the cliffs of Thebes, and could be guided around the treasures of the King by tour guides in red tarbooshes. Authenticity was added in 1925 with the addition of a sandy walkway and a camel! However the tomb itself was not actually inside the Wembley Exhibition, but instead was placed in the Amusement park, between the Flying machine and the Safety Racer. As Egypt had never been part of the British Empire, and relations with Egypt were complex and ambiguous at best, it was decided that the replica tomb didn't really fit in with the main Exhibition's purpose of uniting and stimulating trade between the Empire States. #SUBHEADING# Howard Carter's Outrage #SUBHEADINGEND# The attraction proved immensely popular with visitors, but Howard Carter was outraged. He wanted the replicas destroyed and the exhibition closed down, claiming it was a breech of copyright, and that it was impossible to replicate the originals from a few photographs. Despite his protestations Carter lost the case. The reconstructed tomb remained one of the greatest hits of the Exhibition.


(image/jpeg) The Tutankhamun Replicas at Hull Museums

Howard Carter had never seen the Tutankhamun replicas, and they were far better reproductions than he gave them credit for. It took William Aumonier, advised by Egyptologist Arthur Weigall, eight months to produce the items, using gold leaf at an estimated value of 1000 pounds. His attention to detail was remarkable, and included reproducing the pinholes in the Tailor's mannequin and the broken portions supposedly wrenched off the Royal Throne by thieves.#IMAGE# #SUBHEADING# The Hull Connection #SUBHEADINGEND# At first glance Hull might seem an unusual place for these replicas to end up, but Aumonier was a local Hull artist, and had recently completed the Stuart Memorial for Holderness Road, Hull, a bust of Thomas R Ferens for the City Art Gallery, and a Great War Memorial Fountain to commemorate the loss of 153 employees of the local Reckitts company. After the exhibition at Wembley had finished the collection was offered for sale, and purchased by Albert Reckitt, and donated to the people of Hull in 1936. #SUBHEADING# On display #SUBHEADINGEND# The first exhibition of the Tutankhamun replicas went on display in Hull's Mortimer Museum in 1936. Hull Museums Publications, written by the Museum's director Thomas Sheppard, published an article on the collection, detailing its reproduction materials and notes from the sculptor himself. The collection was then moved to a special gallery created in one of the warehouses behind Wilberforce House in 1939. These warehouses were destroyed by enemy action in 1941, but thankfully the replicas had already been removed and were not destroyed with them. They were re-displayed in 1972 to coincide with the British Museum's 'Treasures of Tutankhamun' Exhibition, followed by an exhibition in 1993 that featured a mummified Priest on loan from the British Museum. Finally, the collection was put on permanent display in Hands on History museum, where Tutankhamun's replicated funerary treasures still manage to astound visitors today.