We are excited to announce we have been awarded funding from the Pilgrim Trust to undertake conservation work on over 200 metal objects from our archaeology collection here at Touchstones. The objects form part of an important collection of material from Ancient Egypt, excavated by archaeologist Flinders Petrie in the 19th and early 20th centuries as part of his work for the Egypt Exploration Fund. Charles Heape, a wealthy textile industrialist from Rochdale, donated the material along with over 2800 other objects from Petrie’s excavations; including pottery, jewellery, alabaster vessels and funerary objects from the 3000 years of rule in Ancient Egypt.
The collection being conserved includes religious objects such as amulets of Gods and Goddesses, metal mirrors perhaps used in the application of the kohl eye liner distinctive in imagery from this period; as well as everyday objects such as architectural fixings which provide a fascinating insight into how metal was used within wealthy society in Egypt. Many of these objects were excavated from the site of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt and hub of political, religious and commercial life; and provide an important snapshot of this bustling centre of Ancient Egyptian civilisation.
The colleciton has been packed and carefully transported to York Archaeology where specialist conservators will work to stabilise the objects, ensuring they are protected from corrosion and further instability. The surface change in the objects (where the metal oxidises creating a blue and green fuzzy surface) happens as a result of chemical reactions in the metal, likely from moisture in the environment where the objects were buried thousands of years ago. Conservation work of this kind is important to not only preserve objects for future generations and audiences to access but also helps us understand more about the objects we hold in our collections. Undertaking this work will ensure the collection is stable enough to handle and research to unlock new understanding and knowledge not only about the objects themselves but also more generally about life in Ancient Egypt.
We are very grateful to the Pilgrim Trust for their support in helping us care for this important collection in Rochdale. Their commitment to supporting conservation projects is vital for preserving and understanding the rich collections of cultural heritage found in museums and historic sites across the UK.
Keep an eye out on our social media channels throughout this year for updates on this exciting project!
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