The story of the replicas, and how they came to be at Hull Museums, is a long and fascinating tale. But first, you must journey back to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb…
Tutmania
The discovery of Tutakhamun’s tomb in November 1922 sparked a frenzy of interest in Ancient Egypt that continues today. Despite being a little-known Pharaoh, King Tut is now immortalised in popular culture, making his tomb one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century.
Discovering the tomb
The discovery of this long-lost pharaoh was a long time coming. Archaeologist Howard Carter had been excavating in the Valley of the Kings for years. Other archaeologists like Theodore Davis claimed there was nothing left to find. But Carter wasn't ready to give up yet.
He managed to persuade his patron, Lord Carnarvon, to continue funding for one more season. On the 4th of November 1922, just three days into work, they discovered an entrance and stairway next to the tomb of Ramesses VI. Off went an urgent telegram to Lord Carnarvon in England requesting his presence in Egypt.
Further excavations later revealed the cartouche of Tutankhamun – finally, the search was over!
“Everywhere a glint of gold”
On the 25th Nov 1922, Carter and Carnarvon entered the tomb to discover the treasures that lay inside. What they found was amazing. Despite evidence of ancient grave robbers, this was the most intact tomb ever discovered.
Behind the first door was a corridor filled with rubble. When cleared, this revealed another door behind which Carter described a room full of "wonderful things". One containing "strange animals, statues and gold – everywhere a glint of gold."
They discovered three funerary couches with Hippo, Cow and Lion heads. White and black bedsteads and a wooden mannequin of the Pharaoh used for fitting his robes. A golden throne depicting the Pharaoh and his wife. And two guardians of the tomb, on either side of a door through to the burial chamber.
It was not until 23rd February 1923 that Carter ventured into the burial chamber. There he found four gilded shrines, nested one inside the other. He also found a stone sarcophagus holding three coffins. The innermost coffin was made from solid gold and weighed 2500 lbs. The task of removing each coffin was slow and delicate. It wasn't until 24th October 1925 (more than two years later!) that the last coffin was opened. This revealed the mummified remains of the King and the iconic gold mask.
They also discovered two more rooms. A treasury, containing all the items needed in the afterlife (including the canopic chest with his internal organs), and an annexe.
A lifetime's work
Each of the 5000 items in the tomb was meticulously recorded and catalogued. It took them six years to excavate the tomb, and 10 to remove, treat and study everything. Progress was not helped by the constant barrage of visitors desperate to catch a glimpse of the latest discovery.
Beware the curse of the mummy
After the discovery of King Tut's tomb, rumours of an ancient “mummy's curse” were rife! Lord Carnarvon indeed died in April 1923, just seven weeks after the opening of the burial chamber. Carter's pet canary was another victim, eaten by a Cobra on the day they discovered the tomb.
However, most people connected to the discovery went on to live for many years, including Carter himself. Lord Carnarvon's constitution was already weak – he primarily visited Egypt for his health. He died of pneumonia after falling ill from an infected mosquito bite.
The British Empire Exhibition, 1924
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb caught the public imagination. This led to a widespread "Tutmania" and a popular craze for all things Egyptian. It was decided that a replica tomb would be created at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. Architectural sculptor William Aumonier was commissioned to create replicas of funerary items found in the Antechamber of the tomb. He and a team of assistants created the replicas based on photographs alone.
A "complete replica"
The Exhibition brochure described the attraction as: "A complete replica of the tomb of the Egyptian King recently discovered at Luxor, Egypt by Lord Carnarvon and Mr Howard Carter..."
Of course "complete" wasn't quite correct. At the time of the Exhibition opening in 1924, only the Antechamber had been cleared. The Sarcophagus, with its iconic gold mask, had not yet been opened. As such, the items on show at the Exhibition could only reference the small number of items recorded and photographed so far.
Nevertheless, it was an impressive sight! Visitors to the replica tomb met an imposing cutaway facade of the cliffs of Thebes. From there, tour guides in red tarbooshes guided them around the treasures of the King. In 1925, the addition of a sandy walkway and camel lent the exhibit further authenticity.
The tomb itself was not actually inside the Wembley Exhibition. Egypt had never been part of the British Empire, and relations with Egypt were complex and ambiguous at best. The replica tomb didn't fit with the Exhibition's purpose of uniting and stimulating trade between the Empire States. And so, the tomb was placed in the Amusement park, between the Flying Machine and the Safety Racer.
Howard Carter's outrage
The attraction proved immensely popular with visitors, but Howard Carter was outraged. Carter wanted the replicas destroyed and the exhibition closed down. He claimed it was a breach of copyright, and that it was impossible to replicate the originals from a few photographs. Despite his protests, Carter lost the case. The reconstructed tomb remained one of the greatest hits of the Exhibition.
The Tutankhamun Replicas at Hull Museums
Howard Carter had never seen the Tutankhamun replicas. They were far better reproductions than he gave them credit for. Not to mention exquisite – using gold leaf at an estimated value of £1000 (a great deal of money at that time).
Under the guidance of Egyptologist Arthur Weigall, it took William Aumonier eight months to make the items. His attention to detail was remarkable, right down to the pinholes in the tailor's mannequin.
The Hull Connection
Hull might seem an unusual place for these replicas to end up, but Aumonier was a local Hull artist. He'd recently completed the Stuart Memorial for Holderness Road, and a Great War Memorial Fountain to commemorate the loss of 153 employees of the local Reckitts company. Aumonier also created a bust of Thomas R. Ferens for the City Art Gallery.
After the exhibition at Wembley finished, the collection was offered for sale. Albert Reckitt purchased the items and donated them to the people of Hull in 1936.
On display
The first exhibition of the replicas went on display in Hull's Mortimer Museum in 1936. Hull Museums Publications published an article on the collection. This article details the reproduction materials and includes notes from Aumonier himself.
In 1930, the collection moved to a special gallery in a warehouse behind Wilberforce House. In 1941, these warehouses were destroyed in the war. Thankfully the replicas had already been removed and were not destroyed with them.
The replicas went on display once more in 1972 to coincide with the British Museum's Treasures of Tutankhamun Exhibition. And again in 1993, in an exhibition that featured a mummified Priest on loan from the British Museum.
Finally, we put the collection on permanent display in Hands on History Museum. Here, Tutankhamun's replicated funerary treasures still manage to astound visitors today.
