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YOU ARE HERE:>>REAL or FAKE >>Is this genuine Section 3, page 4

  From Phil

4th September 07

Last month, I purchased a boatman model from a seller in Australia. I think it's a very strange object, and a strange story too, that might others.

The first pic is from the site. The sculpture was 6.5 cm tall, very expressive, in good condition for a middle kingdom one... and very cheap.

When I received it, I suspected the light color to be modern. So, I went to the Louvre Museum to inspect the painted woods of this epoch. I did not see an other example of two-tone colours. I verified on my specimen: a part of the light colour was applied directly on an ancient scar; on the head, a rest of modern glue was painted too.

So I decided to remove all the modern light paint and plaster. The second pic shows you the result. I know it's incredible, but I certify this is the same object. I finished to unrestore the facial details and I had a big surprise: I expected a black and white painted eye as on the courant models. I discovered a carved eye as on a portrait.

Before and after.........

So I have some problems to authenticate this object as a model and as a genuine sculpture. The wood is very light and old, with scars. The proportions are perfect.

But...

a - the painting is in better condition than I can expect on an so old object

b - on the left knee, the white painting has a strange pearly aspect; this part is very well sanded, so it's possible this aspect results from this form.

c - the carved eye is uncommon on a model; I don't know other example. If it's genuine, the facial details seems to belong to the Sesostris III time.

 Why would a great genuine sculpture can be hidden under fake painting? Is it a fake from the middle of the 19th century? ..or a genuine one from the middle of the 19th century too, but B.C.? Is it a prtrait? Or is it a very well carved model? What is his profession? I don't think it's a boatman...

Fakers often use pieces of ancient wood.

Here is a close up of the bottom.

The arms should be articulated.

I'm not sure that they are.

The carved eye is most unusual.

I tend to think it's not right.

What do others think?

.

From  Phil

26th August 08

 Do you remember my wooden boatman?

You were right, it is a fake.

The sculpture is made into two joined boards (from a sarcophagus box?).

The joint shows in the back, the breast and particularly well in the bottom picture: the joint goes from 10 o'clock to 4 o'clock and one can see some glue in it. The joint cut the head in two parts; that explains why the left part of the face is lost.

In the first pic you can see the back side, the head and the front side with the line of the joint under the painting.

It is perfectly linear as if it is made by joining two boards.

The last pic is the same you have posted before.

I've just added some comments to show the glue into the joint.

Now the method  to made an Egyptian boatman:

1 - Take an old wooden board from a sarcophagus

2 - Cut in 2 parts and joint them with glue

3 - Carve the figure. Paint it.

4 - Sorry but the wood is so old that a part of the face is broken.

5 - Add plaster to repair the face. Paint again with a stucco mixture.

6 - Bury your work in the garden.

Is this genuine...... next page>>>>