Many of the wooden coffins that are being studied as part of the Medjehu wood project show evidence of what has been termed ‘yellow’ and ‘black’ varnish on some exterior and interior surfaces (Figs. 1 and 2). Although chemical analysis is not possible, it is known from studies of examples in museum collections that these coatings typically contain aromatic tree resins. The translucent ‘yellow’ varnish, applied over the decoration, is usually composed primarily of pistacia resin. Conversely, ‘black’ varnish was sometimes used as a coating over all or part of the coffin surfaces, or as an undercoat for yellow outlined decoration. The composition of the ‘black’ varnish may vary but is more complex, typically containing mixtures of products such as resins, heated tar and possible distillates from trees in the family Pinaceae (which includes pine and cedar) as well again as pistacia resin and, in addition, oil, fats, beeswax and bitumen. Notably, as Egypt has no significant sources of resin, the presence of these varnishes provides important socio-economic evidence that some members of Deir el-Medina’s elite had access to these valuable resins which would have been imported from areas in the eastern Mediterranean.

 

The aims of this project are: 1) to record instances of these resin varnishes; 2) to study how these coatings relate to the decorative programme of the coffins; 3) to compare the occurrences of varnishes with the quality of coffin construction in order to better understand comparative economic implications of access to wood and tree resin; 4) to consider how the examples of varnishes on coffin might be linked to social status; 5) to better understand the physical properties of the ‘varnishes’ and methods of application, such as evidence of brushstrokes (Fig. 3); 6) to examine the preservation or alteration of the varnishes over time (Fig. 4).

 

To achieve these aims, the coffins and coffin fragments have been studied visually and with the aid of a digital microscope. In many ways, the fragmentary nature of many of the coffin remains has very much facilitated the study of the varnishes, enabling examination of the ‘stratigraphy’ of the manufacturing and varnishing practices that would not have been possible on more complete examples (Fig. 5).

 

As the images illustrate, detailed study has been able to advance many of the objectives. Results from the study of some of the 18th Dynasty black-style wooden coffins have been previously published in BIFAO 121 (2021) with further publications now planned and in progress.