Four ancient Egyptian artefacts belonging to Tutankhamun, and missing from the Cairo Museum since the January Revolution have been returned, announced Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities, in a statement to the press.
The objects returned include the gilded wooden statue of Tutankhamun standing on a skiff throwing a harpoon (JE 60710.1), part of King Tut’s burial treasure.
As can be seen in the photos below, the statue suffered damage; a small part of the crown is missing as well as pieces of the pharaoh’s legs.
The boat itself never left the Cairo Museum, and the artefact will now be reassembled and restored, as was previously done with the Tutankhamun Standing on a Panther statue.
The second returned object is one of the 10 missing shabtis of Yuya and Tjuya (JE 68984). It is still in very good condition; it does not require restoration and will be placed on display again immediately, stated Dr. Tarek El-Awady, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The third object is the famous gilded bronze and wooden trumpet of Tutankhamun (JE 62008).
The instrument and its wooden, painted core were both received in good condition and will be put on display immediately.
Also returned was a part of Tutankhamuns fan (JE 62006). One face is in good condition, sadly the other side has been broken into 11 pieces. Part of the royal fan – the stock itself – is still missing.
How the objects were returned to the Egyptian Museum, was not mentioned in the statement.
From the list of objects missing from the Cairo Museum, near to twenty items were retrieved in March, most of them confiscated from dealers.
Yet, some of Tutankhamun’s treasures remain lost; a gilded wood statue of Tutankhamun wearing the Red Crown, and the figurine showing a mummified King Tut being carried by Menkaret.