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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
The Howard Carter Archives
Photographs by Harry Burton
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Carter No.: 047

Handlist description: Ebony bedstead

Card/Transcription No.: 047-1


47 Ebony Bedstead 1

Position: Resting upon Lion Couch (No. 35) and probably in its original position.

Dimensions: Max. L. 184.5 (Max. L. over feet 186.5), Max. H. foot-end 75.5, Max. H. head end 50, H. of bed from ground in centre 36.5. W.90.

Description: Carved ebony bedstead having thin sheet gold ornamentation, open work panels at foot-end with incised painted text, and claw of silver. The foot-end has three panels of carved open-work of Bes and rampant lions - these finely carved ebony figures are fixed into the open panel by means of tongues top and bottom. The design of each of these panels is the same - i.e., a central figure of Bes (front view) in carved ebony, having lotus crown, headdress, and kilt in thin sheet gold; on either side of the god is a rampant lion (profile) with fore-paws resting upon s3 emblems; the lions have similar crowns and head-dresses to the God Bes. The protruding tongues of three figures are of ivory. On the top rail and two outer sides stiles is a long text incised and filled in with yellow paint. It reads from the centre as follows:-

Card no. 047-1 relating to Carter no. 047
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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
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