The Ancient Egyptian Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Part 1, A Review of Treatments in the Field and Their Consequences

Abstract

The article provides a brief overview of the Egyptian Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and its excavations. The conservation history of the collection is established through reviews of excavation records, early photodocumentation, and curatorial and conservation files. Previous approaches to stabilization in the field and other pertinent information, such as packing methods, are discussed in the context of published accounts of conservation methods from the early 20th century. Specific information is provided in sections devoted to metals, ceramics, stone, wood, and organic materials. Part 2 of this article discusses subsequent conservation issues and treatment of the objects at the MFA.