Ayear after the beard was accidentally knocked off and hastily reattached, the 3,300 year-old burial mask of King Tutankhamun is finally back on display at The Egyptian Museum after more than two months of restoration by a team of experts from Henkel Adhesive Technologies.
In January 2015, an expert at Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings, learned that the beard of the
world-famous golden mask of Tutankhamun broke off during maintenance at the museum, prompting uproar among archaeologists, historians and the local community. The expert immediately called the museum’s restoration team to offer Henkel’s professional support.
After a thorough examination by the Henkel team, it was concluded that the beard had been incorrectly glued to the mask with
an epoxy adhesive, leaving behind damage and unsightly residue.
A successful restoration of the mask would require three major steps: cleaning the crust and completely removing the old adhesive; examining the damage and identifying the right solution to join the two parts seamlessly, withstand high temperatures and
vibration during transportation; and applying the new adhesive technology with care and precision.
After numerous measurements, 3D-modelling and adhesive application testing, Henkel was able to develop the ideal solution to
return the priceless artefact to its full glory. Tutankhamun’s mask is now back as a top attraction at The Egyptian Museum.
The museum showcases hundreds of items from the Pharaoh’s tomb, first discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist, Howard
Carter. Ninety years after Carter’s first restoration work in December 1925, Henkel said it is proud that its high-tech hotmelt adhesive technology is now holding together an important piece of ancient history.
Henkel is a leading solution provider for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings and is active in various industries, from
daily consumer goods to massive aviation projects. CW
Henkel Puts Tutankhamun’s
Famed Golden Mask Back to Its Full Glory
