Coffin of Pedi-Osiris

CultureEgyptian
Titles
  • Coffin of Pedi-Osiris
Date332–30 BC
MediumCarved and painted wood; gold leaf
Dimensions86 1/8 × 26 × 18 in. (218.8 × 66.0 × 45.7 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Alice Pratt Brown Museum Fund
Object number2000.560.A,.B
Current Location
The Audrey Jones Beck Building
200 Jamail Atrium
On view

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Department
Antiquities
Description

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. This coffin was made for Pedi-Osiris, a priest of the god Osiris, Lord of the Underworld. Standing more than seven feet tall, the coffin once held the priest's mummified body, which had been elaborately prepared for the afterlife, wrapped in multiple layers of linen cloth.


 Pedi-Osiris appears with a gold face, exotic black-lined eyes, and a fake beard—a symbol of high rank. He wears a wig painted the rich blue of lapis lazuli; numerous painted necklaces; and red clothing covered with a net of painted beads. The coffin also features likenesses of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, who were included to protect the deceased and to help him overcome obstacles in the dangerous journey to the next world.


 


Provenance[The Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc., New York, 1970s]; purchased by Fundacion Cultural Televisa, Mexico City, 1978–1991; private collection, Japan, 1991–2000; purchased by [The Merrin Gallery, Inc., New York, 2000]; purchased by MFAH, 2000.
Exhibition History"El Sueno de Egipta: La Influencia del Arte Egipcio en el Arte Contemporaneo," Feburary-May, 1991, Centro Cultural / Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
hieroglyphics on lower portion & base

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

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